Spencerport’s girls soccer team is trying to win their sixth consecutive Section V title and enters the postseason having allowed only four goals over their 15-game regular season and only one goal over their final nine games. They are seeded first in Class A1 in Section V and ranked fourth in the October 19 New York State Sportswriters poll among Class B schools.
But the Rangers are far from the only area girls and boys soccer teams with championship aspirations following stellar regular seasons.
The Byron-Bergen girls are 16th in the state Class C rankings, Greece Olympia 18th among Class B schools, and Greece Athena is 19th in Class B. The Hilton boys are slotted eighth in Class A1 and Churchville-Chili boys are 11th in Class A.
The 14-0-1 Spencerport team is led offensively by senior co-captain Bre DeHond, who was tied for ninth in all of Section V with 22 goals. Sophomore forward Aleena Solano also was in double-digits with 11 goals, while the midfield duo of senior co-captains Lily Brongo and Alyssa Hackett combined for 54 points.
But defense is their calling card, with sophomore goalkeeper Cate Burns allowing only three goals while making 83 saves during the regular season. And she has veteran help in the back with seniors Emma Taylor, Erica Beaty, Makenna Stacy, and Ruby DePalma, plus junior Shannon Fitzgerald bringing 14 varsity seasons to every game.
The Rangers await the winner of Irondequoit versus Greece Arcadia in the quarterfinals.
Byron-Bergen, seeded second in Class C2 with a 13-3-0 record, trounced Red Jacket 8-0 in the first round of the playoffs. The Bees’ three regular-season losses were all 1-0 affairs, but they have outscored their opponents 56-7 this season, led by eighth-grader Mia Gray’s 22 goals and 56 points. Sophomores Mackenzie Hagen and Emma Starowitz each chipped in 13 goals with 29 points. Senior goalkeeper Brooke Jarkiewicz was 14th in the Section allowing only seven goals while making 75 saves.
Greece Olympia enters the postseason with a 13-3-0 record and seeded second in Class B while also outscoring their opponents by a large margin – 63-20. The Spartans, who had a seven-game winning streak ended on the final day of the regular season, get the bulk of their offense from fifth-year varsity players Kuditra Derosa and midfielder Morgan Welch. Derosa was third in all of Section V with 30 goals this season, while Welch garnered 23 points. Freshman Sarah Tawaf was third on the team with six goals and 21 points.
Greece Athena brings a 12-4-0 record to the postseason and is the top seed in Class A2 for sectionals riding a four-game winning streak. Sophomore Wrianna Hudson led the attack with 22 goals and ten assists, while senior co-captain and midfielder Julie Welling added six goals with nine assists. Eighth-grader Emilee Montagliano played the most minutes in goal during the regular season.
On the boys side, 14-1-1 Hilton rides an eight-game winning streak in the postseason, outscoring their opponents 35-6 in the process. The number two seed in Class AA is led by seniors Cody Cavuoto (19 goals), Alec Smith (14 goals), and Jonathan Resnick (six goals), while senior goalkeeper Joel Morris and junior Ben Cronk each allowed only nine goals while splitting time in net.
And Churchville-Chili, which has not lost since September 10, takes an 11-game unbeaten streak into the playoffs after their 11-2-2 regular season. Senior Gaven Egan led the Saints with nine goals and classmate Nick Rippe added five, but they feature more balanced scoring with senior defender Brett Seaman, juniors Moises Arrendell and Kyle Cherry, and sophomore Andrew Berardicurti all netting two or more goals. Senior goalkeeper Jaden Tensley allowed only five goals all season.
The girls Section V finals are either October 29 or 30, with the boys on November 2.
