We've obviously followed as much of Sect III as possible in every sport. It's a tough task, with over 100 member schools, but we do our best. Let's see how good of a guesser I am. Prediction of Tuesday & Wednesday's 1st round and quarterfinal games, going by class. Once Wednesday finishes up, we'll add Thursday-Saturday. I think you see a pattern... Let's try this out.
Class AA
(9) Proctor @ (8) West Genesee - Haven't watched Proctor, but I've seen some teams they've played. Caught West Genny once a month ago. West Genny is strong defensively (only given up more than 2 goals twice), and they do have a common opponent - West Genny beat Camden 1-0, and Camden beat Proctor twice. Look for the Wildcats to roll Tuesday.
(6) Auburn @ (3) Baldwinsville - Auburn's a tough team to grasp. They can play with anyone in AA sometimes, and other times, they have trouble with teams they should handle. 10-6, but have lost 4 of their last 6 games - one of them on Friday to Baldwinsville, a 6-2 decision. The Bees have challenged themselves in their non-league schedule, playing Mercy (Rochester), Arlington (Poughkeepsie), and John Jay (East Fishkill). They're 5-0 in October. I've got my money on the Bees.
(7) RFA @ (2) CBA - Although the Black Knights are coming in with only 1 loss in their last 5 decisions (3-1-1), wins were over 2 win D Notre Dame, 1 win A Oneida, and Proctor in OT. Their last game was a 7-0 defeat at the hands of #1 seed in AA, C-NS. CBA may have a slightly inflated seeding here, though. Thanks to the CNYCL not wanting them in, they play A's all year. Their only game against AA competition was a 3-0 loss to Fayetteville-Manlius. That being said, I still think this is the Lady Brothers' game to lose.
Class A
(10) Homer @ (7) East Syracuse-Minoa - Homer's been another team that's shown some flashes, but haven't kept it going consistently. Teams like that are scary come sectional time - if you get hot at the right time, look out. They've taken a hit the last 2 games, dropping a 5-0 decision to J-D and losing 3-1 to Fulton, a team they tied earlier in the season. .However, they've split with ES-M this season, the most recent being a 4-3 comeback W 2 weeks ago. The Spartans are coming in a little worse than they hoped, I'm sure, dropping 3 of their last 5, including the one to Homer along with a 3-1 L to Class C2 Grimes. Could be interesting, but home field might make a big difference - and it's at ES-M.
(11) Chittenango @ (6) New Hartford - Chittenango hasn't won in their last 6 games (0-4-2); the last W was on October 1. They have a young squad, including 3 sophomores & a junior among its 4 leading goal scorers. Watched them play Homer a couple weeks ago - what I did take away is their sweeper is solid, for what it's worth. New Hartford has went 1-3-1 in its last 5, including a 2-1 L to #1 seed in C1 Sauquoit Valley, but also including a 4-1 W over #2 seed in A CVA. Sparty likes home field. I'll roll with Sparty.
(9) Fulton @ (8) Carthage - Fulton is yet another streaky team that's went up and down like the stock market. They appear to be on an upswing heading into the October classic, going 3-0-1 over the last 4. After giving up 2+ goals in 5 straight games, they've given up 3 in those last 4. Carthage has shut out their last 2 opponents, and hopes to do the same Tuesday. Their only OHSL opponents have been a pair of B's - they beat Ludden 4-1 and lost to Marcellus 6-0. This one is a toss-up, but I'll take the hot team. Fulton gets my vote.
Class B
(9) VVS @ (8) Sherburne-Earlville - Another tough one. Watched both teams, including VVS twice. Tess Lohr puts that work in. You'll need half a team to contain her, and sometimes that doesn't work. The Red Devils have went on a mini-slump, dropping 4 of their last 6, but a W over Oneida may have them on the right track. Plus they beat Sherburne 4-1 in their only meeting this season - granted, in August. Saw Sherburne once, but it was a beatdown they took from Clinton. They can be tough, and I don't think it will be so convincing as a 4-1 game this time. However, I'm thinking it'll be a little too much Lohr, and the Devils will make it hell.
(10) Solvay @ (7) Cazenovia - Solvay's coming in winning 3 of its last 4, thanks in large part to the play of Chelsie Delperuto. Last year's leading scorer turned this season's goalie turned this season's leading scorer has seen the back of the net at a high rate, considering she was trying to protect it for half of the season. Cazenovia beat Solvay 4-1 in their one meeting this season, the last game Delperuto was a GK until their last game. Caz is a 7 seed that every B takes very seriously and could make a deep run. Coming in winners of 5 straight, including 14 goals scored in their last 2 and a nice 1-0 W over tough A Camden, it might be a little worrisome to see them in your lineup. Advantage, Lakers.
(12) Holland Patent @ (5) Westhill - Holland Patent has a younger squad this year with an experienced keeper. Ashley Stanley & Morgan Roller lead the way for them, and Nikki Lupia-Eannace did a nice job in goal most of the way in the game I saw against Remsen, albeit a 4-1 L. However, they're no match for Westhill, a team that's faster, much more physical, and better. Plus I still haven't seen a better keeper than Sam Peebles. Westhill could truly challenge with Marcellus, Clinton, & Skaneateles for the B crown. At 12-1-3, the only actual loss they suffered was the game I watched. I'm sure this one won't make 2. Warriors big.
(11) APW @ (6) Lowville - APW only has 1 win that I know of, which makes me wonder why they're in. However, they have some of the closest games against alright competition that I've seen out of a 1 win team. However, I just can't see them beating Lowville, a team that's only lost 3 tilts this season. They've won 5 straight. Look for it to be 6 on Tuesday.
(13) Frankfort-Schuyler @ (4) Skaneateles - Frankfort limped its way into sectionals barely. Skaneateles had a mid-season bump in the road, but won their league. They beat MARCELLUS at one point. Frankfort has to go out there. This could get ugly. Like Andre 3000, I'm.. just being honest.
Class C1
(9) IHC @ (8) Cato-Meridian - IHC is 4-9-2 and a 9 seed, but I feel as if they'll be a pretty tough out for anyone. They've kept it competitive with Frontier As, along with splitting matches with South Jefferson, one of the top seeds in B. Cato-Meridian has been a nice story, and their girls soccer program hasn't really been known for sniffing the postseason. However, they've tailed off in the last couple weeks, and IHC should be able to move on to play Sauquoit.
(10) Pulaski @ (7) Mt. Markham - The Blue Devils just kinda snuck into sectionals. However, they've shown they can compete. So has Mt. Markham. They might be .500, but they were under 2 minutes away from forcing Sauquoit into a scoreless draw over the last couple weeks. The Mustangs have made leaps & bounds over the course of the season. Add that to them playing on their home field, and I give Mt. Markham an edge here.
Class C2
(9) Waterville @ (8) Onondaga - Yet to see Onondaga, and I've seen Waterville once. I have seen a lot of these 'Daga girls as a lower seed before, taking on a high-seeded CSC squad... a year ago. They gave #2 seed WCV a hell of a scare. Now they get a home game, looking for the "right" to play Grimes. Hannah Gray is a potent offensive option for Waterville, but the question: Is Waterville's back line fast enough to handle an attacking Onondaga? Answer: not likely. Advantage Tigers.
Class D
(11) McGraw @ (6) Brookfield - CCL opponents will meet again. The Beavers have been much tougher than expected, behind Jill Hughes & Abby Reilly, who's still a youngin. They've played McGraw twice. They've won twice. The last one was 8-0. Brookfield will go 3 for 3.
(9) Stockbridge Valley @ (8) Old Forge - Advantage to the home team here. Although the Eskimos have faltered of late, there's something about playing in Old Forge that brings out the worst in teams. Get someone going up front to give Shelby Egnaczyk a break in goal, and they could be off to the races.
(12) Madison @ (5) Lyme - Lyme has given undefeated #1 seed Copenhagen quite a run for their money a couple times. As a matter of fact, take out the Copenhagen games, they're 10-2-1. Madison's had its share of trouble this season. The trip to Lyme won't help. Big advantage for the home team.
(13) Sackets Harbor @ (4) Remsen - I won't consult stats. I've seen both teams. Remsen is a little better than I expected than them to be, and a lot better than Sackets. Joleen Marfone & Elisha Hamilton are too much firepower. Ewes (Lady Rams) win big.
(14) Faith Heritage @ (3) Cincinnatus - Cincy has went 14-2 this regular season, scoring 95 times along the way. They've scored 20 in the last 2. Although they've had a couple moments where they haven't performed nearly up to snuff, it's tough to not roar in favor of the Lions. Faith Heritage won't play the role of Florida-Gulf Coast next year.
(10) Hamilton @ (7) Oriskany - Oriskany is a nice story; the Cooperstown of 2013. They started off winning only 1 of their first 6 contests (1-4-1), but have won 7 of their last 8. Talk about a change! This includes a 2-0 W over Hamilton. Cooperstown (Redskins last year) pulled a Drake a year ago, started from the bottom. Got really hot and went into sectionals on a tear. However, they took a 1st round L to a Waterville team they had recently beat. Hamilton looks to play the role of Waterville on the road Tuesday afternoon. As much as I love the story of this year's Redskins, I'll vote for history.
Score Predictions
West Genesee 5, Proctor 1
Baldwinsville 4, Auburn 2
CBA 3, RFA 1
ES-M 2, Homer 1
New Hartford 3, Chittenango 0
Fulton 3, Carthage 2 (OT)
VVS 3, Sherburne 1
Cazenovia 5, Solvay 2
Westhill 7, Holland Patent 0
Lowville 2, APW 1
Skaneateles 8, Frankfort 1
IHC 4, Cato-Meridian 2
Mt. Markham 2, Pulaski 0
Onondaga 3, Waterville 0
Brookfield 7, McGraw 2
Old Forge 2, Stockbridge 1 (OT)
Lyme 5, Madison 1
Remsen 8, Sackets Harbor 0
Cincinnatus 6, Faith Heritage 2
Hamilton 1, Oriskany 0
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