Okay, quick rundown. Ready, go.
Girls Soccer
Clinton vs. Westhill (at Chittenango) - Two traditional powers that always seem to end up around here. Both teams have been ranked highly all year, and you always expect a good one. That being said, Westhill is tough, they do not let you score, and they score enough to feel comfortable. I think Jayanna Monds, Kelly Lippert and Co. will move on to meet Lowville in the final, 3-1.
Beaver River vs. Bishop Grimes (at Fulton) - Bishop Grimes has been the #1 team in the state in Class C alllll year long. The Beavers - or the Orange Crush - are no strangers to getting deep into sectionals, but they're running into a buzzsaw. Grimes has been motivated all year after last year's heartbreak, they also don't let anyone score, and Kennedy Yearby is an animal. I'll say 3-1 in this too, Cobras.
Sackets Harbor vs. Poland (at Lowville) - Sackets is the Cinderella of the tournament this year, knocking off #5 Oriskany and #4 Morrisville-Eaton to get to the semis. With all due respect to Oriskany and an injury-depleted Morrisville team, they're not Poland. I continue to underrate the Frontier, but there is no beating the Tornadoes unless the Patriots play a very physical brand of soccer and get Poland out of their comfort zone. I think Poland advances, 4-0.
Remsen vs. Copenhagen (at Lowville) - Remsen is getting hot at the right time. The 6 seed certainly had talent beyond their seeding, but things hadn't fully panned out for them. Senior and long-time varsity stud Joleen Marfone hadn't been producing nearly as much offensively this year.. ya know, until sectionals. She had 13 goals & 9 assists in the regular season, and has put through 7 goals & 3 assists in two sectional matches. If Marfone keeps up the high rate we know she can perform at, and Elisha Hamilton, Hailey Murray and others keep up their pace, Remsen and their youth (5 seniors, with leading scorer Hamilton being a sophomore and GK Woolheater a freshman) can pull it off. Copenhagen has a great talent in Claire Stackel, and Emma Roberts & Maci Spaulding compliment her very well. By the way, they're all back next year. 2 are juniors, Spaulding's a sophomore. If they score early, they'll win. However, I'm picking against the Frontier again as I think Remsen's just a team that no one wants to bump up against right now. 2-1 final for the Ewes.
Boys Soccer
Jamesville-Dewitt vs. Indian River (at Watertown) - For some reason, there's been a lot of crap-talking on social media about this one. Same with the ESM game before. The larger Frontier schools have shown they're not quite as strong as the OHSL this year, but I think Indian River is an exception. The top seed will move on in what's nearly a home game for them, 3-2.
General Brown vs. Cazenovia (at Fulton) - Caz has shown dominance in Class B this year, and I think that continues tonight. Their quickness up top mixed with strength is too much for General Brown to overcome. Although it's been a nice season for GB, giving the crowd another option besides football, it ends tonight. 3-1 Lakers.
Clinton vs. Skaneateles (at Chittenango) - Can't get much better of a semifinal matchup. It's an evenly matched game, but I think Gavin Gleasman and company have been this far too many times without closing the deal. It changes tonight. There won't be 2 Lakers moving on, as Clinton eeks out a 2-1 victory.
Fabius-Pompey vs. Manlius Pebble Hill (at Chittenango) - These two start off the tripleheader at Chittenango tonight. They split the season series with Fabius-Pompey winning more convincingly in their game, buuut throw all that out the window now that we're at the sectional semis. Gerrit Church has been on a roll lately, and I'll take his MPH squad to hold off Fabius-Pompey just enough on defense in a 2-1 W.. maybe OT needed.
Hamilton vs. Watertown IHC (at Liverpool) - Hamilton's another team hot at the right time... and they drew a pretty favorable schedule. They beat Westmoreland and top-seeded Sauquoit - both league opponents, and Hamilton had already just beaten Sauquoit - to get here. IHC is always tough in sectionals because of playing against As and Bs all year and dropping to lower classes in the postseason. Hamilton's not afraid of the moment, but I'll roll with the Cavaliers 2-0.
Alexandria Bay vs. Sackets Harbor (at Lowville) - Who had a 14/7 semifinal in their bracket this year? Props to you, dawg. Truthfully speaking, I think the only thing that could stop the Purple Ghosts' magical run through this postseason is another Frontier squad that knows them. After Alexandria Bay knocked off 3rd seeded Bishop Ludden and 6 seed Old Forge, I think it comes to an end at the hands of a Sackets Harbor squad that pulled an upset of 2nd seeded Owen D. Young to get here. Sackets went 2 for 2 in the regular season, and I'm voting for them to go 3 for 3 in a 4-2 win.
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