One team is looking to advance to a first ever NYSPHAA title game. The other is making a ninth semifinal round appearance in school history. C.G. Finney and Chazy battle it out for a chance to go to the NYS Class D Boys’ Soccer championship. Here’s the breakdown:
C.G. FINNEY FALCONS
(15-2-3/Private-Parochial League)
vs.
CHAZY EAGLES
(21-0-0/Northern Soccer League Division II)
How they arrived here: Finney (No. 3 NYSSWA) started its playoff run with a win over Bolivar-Richburg/Parker-Jordan 5-1 after receiving a first-round bye. The Falcons would continue in the playoffs beating Northstar Christian (4-2), advanced against Fillmore on PKs, and beat North Collins 3-0 to go to the state semifinals. Chazy (No. 1 NYSSWA) started their run with a win over Bouquet Valley (12-0), then beat Lake Placid 5-0, won the sectional championship against Johnsburg/Minerva. In the State playoffs, the Eagles beat Hartford Central (3-0), and advanced to the state quarterfinal after beating (6-0).
Total goals scored: C.G. Finney (55), Chazy (125)
Total goals allowed: C.G. Finney (11), Chazy (4)
Trends: Finney is going into the semifinals, winning seven out of its last nine matches. During that time, the Falcons have outscored their opponents 25-5. Finney has nine total shutouts on the season and has not allowed more than two goals in a game all year. Undefeated Chazy is currently on a nine-game shutout streak. The Eagles have not allowed more than one goal in a game. Chazy started the season, shutting out five of its first six opponents. Chazy averages six goals per game and allows about 0.2 goals per game.
Players to watch for Charles Finney: Matteo Gefell Jr. ST (15 G, 18 A); Jacob DeRose Jr. M (9 G, 7 A); Seihak Leng Sr. M (7 G, 4 A); Sean Hartman Jr. M (6 G, 8 A); Judea Danesi Sr. D; Landon Odell Sr. D; Mackenzy Miller Sr. M
Players to watch for Chazy: Landon Duprey Sr. F (29 G, 24 A); Zeke McLennan Jr. F (26 G, 13 A); Jacoby Weeden Sr. M (11 G, 8 A); Stuart Kapp Fr. F (9 G, 2 A); Jack Rovers Sr. (8 G, 15 A); Jack McAuliffe Sr. M; Henry Kapp Jr. GK (48 Saves, 4 GA)
Coaches: Stephen Merritt (Charles Finney), Rob McAuliffe (Chazy)
History 101: Coming off its second regional championship win, Finney is looking to advance to the NYS Class D championship for the first time in history. Last time the Falcons were in the state semifinals, they were eliminated on PKs by Mount Academy. Chazy is making a ninth semifinals appearance against a Section V team. The Eagles have 10 NYS championships and are looking to advance for the first time since 2023 when they tied 2-2 in the final. Chazy has a record of 4-2-2 against Section V teams in school history.
What’s at stake: The winner advances to the NYS Class D championship and will face either Northville (II) or Smithtown Christian (XI).
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, November 14 at 1 p.m. at Middletown High School.
More history: Since the inception of the NYSPHSAA Boys’ Soccer Tournament in 1978, Section V sides have won 48 of the 204 titles (23 percent) contested. Of those, 35 have been outright. Pittsford Mendon leads the way with six such NYS titles followed by Red Creek (4) and Aquinas (4). Fillmore, Holley, Naples, Penfield and Pittsford Sutherland have all won two titles apiece with another 11 schools bringing home one outright state crown: Bath-Haverling, Bloomfield, Cardinal Mooney, Fairport, Gates-Chili, Greece Arcadia, Greece Athena, Hilton, Jasper-Troupsburg, Marion, McQuaid Jesuit and Northstar Christian. Pittsford Mendon (3), Red Creek (2), Fillmore, Gates Chili, Greece Arcadia, Jasper-Troupsburg, Livonia, Marion, Penfield and Pittsford Sutherland have all shared at least one title.
Cornell University hosted the first NYS tournament that was competed at three classifications (A, B and C). Class D was added in 1980, AA in 2004 and AAA in 2023. Fairport took the AAA title in its second year in its existence. Two Section V teams (Penfield ’04 and McQuaid ’17) have won outright Class AA titles while Section V teams have combined to win 11 Class A championships, 14 Class B, 11 Class C and seven Class D titles.
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