Well if this isn't confusing enough... we've got quarterfinals and semifinals both going on today, and there's no such thing as a split class. From what I know of, there's 4 boys games and 8 girls one. Boys are all in semis now, and it's the Class A & D ones going off today. On the girls end, we have the Class A semis along with 2 Class AA quarters and all of the Class Cs. What do I think about them? Let's see!
Boys Soccer
Scotia-Glenville @ Queensbury - The Q got hot midway through the season and haven't cooled off yet, winning 9 straight after starting 4-4. One of those 9 wins was against this Scotia team, who's remained consistent all year minus a couple blips on the radar. It's two evenly matched squads that know each other well. What else could you ask for in a 2/3 matchup? I'll pick Queensbury getting a slim lead and then hitting the insurance goal late to win 3-1.
Averill Park @ South Glens Falls - So, this one is really interesting. South Glens Falls is the Foothills champ and they're rolling lately. 3 losses, but 6-0 in October. Averill Park is the squad that shows you how much better the Suburban is than the Foothills (or any other conference with As in it). They only won 3 regular season games, but were able to beat Albany Academy in the quarterfinals to get here. I watched both teams play and can honestly say I think it's a toss-up. Averill Park is the stronger team physically, but SGF's Alec Potter is the best finisher. When it gets to this point of the season, the best players make big plays and I think Potter does that tonight with some help from Teddy Bruschini. 2-1 Bulldogs.
North Warren @ Northville - The battle of the Norths. I wonder if North West is officiating? North Warren pulled a mild upset of 2nd seeded New Lebanon to advance to semis, but they face a slightly different animal in Northville. New Lebanon's offense was 'we need to get Justin Bingham the ball by any means necessary in order to score', Northville spreads the wealth because they can. They have a more controlled style, and they're almost not used to D competition because they played Cs almost exclusively all year in the WAC. The fact that Will Wilson, their leading scorer, will be playing - he was given a red card against Argyle in the quarterfinals which eventually was overturned after the game - makes a huge difference. Picking Northville to win this one 3-1.
Loudonville Christian @ Fort Ann - Fort Ann is the top seed for a reason, and they certainly showed it. 8.. count em, 8!.. Cardinals scored in their quarterfinal victory. Loudonville Christian will present more game of a challenge, but not enough of one. Lack of potent finishing will do them in, as the top seed rolls 4-0.
Girls Soccer
Niskayuna @ Guilderland - If these two teams play each other 10 times, each will win 4 and they'll tie twice. Exactly what you hope for in the 4/5 game. Unless you're trying to pick a winner. The loss of Sophia Constantine has killed Nisky, a team that I initially thought was the top of AA while she was controlling the center. They were 6-2-1 with her in the box score, and they've been 4-3 since the last time she posted a point (a loss to Shen). Their first loss of the season was a 1-0 fall to Guilderland. Speaking of Guilderland, they've won 4 straight since dropping their previous 3. Both teams will be shaking off the rust early, as it's been 12 days without a game, but the same thing applies to me in this one as did in a game above - big players make big plays. No disrespect to anyone else, but Marika Contompasis is arguably the best player in Section II when she's fully engaged. It's sectionals - I'm assuming she'll be engaged, and I'm saying it'll be enough to get Nisky a 2-1 victory on the road to avenge their 1st loss.
Shaker @ Shenendehowa - Shaker would be so much better if they could put the damn ball in the net. In their ten games that haven't been wins, they were shut out in 7 of them. The last one was in their last game - a 2-0 loss to Shen 12 days ago. Shen has possibly been the most consistent team all year - you get what you expect from them every night, and consistency is big at this time of year. They've also been stingy, with just 11 goals given up all season. That number will stay tonight in the Plains(wo)men's 2-0 victory.
Mohonasen @ Scotia-Glenville - Mohonasen is another one of those Class A Suburban examples. You just can't judge them by their record. 4 wins all regular season blah blah, they proved their worth by blanking South High in the quarterfinals. This is a very young team with only 4 seniors, and their leading scorer (by far) is a freshman. Lexi Canavally has been behind 14 of the team's 21 goals. They also have one of the top GKs I've seen this year in Saeeda Abdul-Aziz. However, Scotia's the top seed for a reason. Gracie Mailey & Maddy Carroll can finish, Abby O'Connor controls the middle, Dom Puglisi is just too good. They only have one blemish on their record, a 3-1 loss to a Queensbury squad that had LaPlant. She scored all 3. The Tartans have rolled 14 straight since, and although this one might be the most challenging, I think it'll bump to 15 tonight in a 3-2 game.
Queensbury @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - Queensbury's a little bit inflated of a 3 seed. They had a nice chance of winning the section before Brittany LaPlant went down, now they're just.. ehh. You can't be 'ehh' against Burnt Hills. They struggled a little more than usual in the Suburban this year, but they got better as the season progressed and look to be on a track straight for the finals... again... where they've won about a generation in a row. BH-BL takes this one 4-1.
Lake George @ Canajoharie - Canajoharie has been in the top 5 in the state in Class C all year, sitting at #2 for most of it. However, the WAC is an average at best conference for a competing C school. The only other relatively competitive squads are Schoharie and Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville - Canjo tied one and split with the other. They are beatable, but I don't think by Lake George. The Logans and Koelbl will take over in a 4-1 victory.
Berlin @ Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville - The defending Class D champs have been doing just fine in C. O-E/St. J has only lost once in the last 5 weeks, but they get a game opponent in Berlin today. Jewel Pietrzak has averaged 2 goals and an assist per game to lead her team through - their league is not strong, but their win over Hoosic Valley gives me a general idea of what to expect. I like the home team (on the scoreboard - it's being played at Johnstown) in this one though. Leann Clark is a solid goalie, Rylie Smith's had a phenomenal rebound back to the field leading this squad, and they're finally playing a little bit loose. I'll pick the Pack, 3-1.
Cambridge @ Greenville - It seems like what the Suburban is to the As, the Wasaren is to the Cs. It isn't the best B league, but Class C schools that are average in it compare well with other C schools. We could consider Cambridge, the 11 seed, a below average Wasaren team. They went on the road in the 1st round to beat 6th seeded Middleburgh, an above-average WAC team. They have a team full of juniors that matter, and I've always believed junior year is when players tend to be the hungriest. Greenville is a bona fide competitor in C, though. They boast one of the top scorers in Section II, speedster Carly Johnson. Her 35 goals are 1 off the section lead, but her 2 assists in the 1st round win over Mayfield shows that she will dish it, too. In a competitive match, I'll take the 3 seed to move onto semis because I don't see Cambridge being able to outscore Greenville. 3-1 final.
Stillwater @ Schoharie - Wasaren vs. WAC. Red hot Wasaren vs. somewhat dominant WAC. Every year, there's a team that gets on a wild run midway through the season, and no one is at hot as Stillwater. 2-5-1 in the first 8 games, 7-1-1 since. They've nearly had double the goal output in the 2nd half compared to the 1st half, and they've only given up 1/3 of the amount of goals. Playing against the same teams. Whaaat? Schoharie's only loss is to Unatego, a team that's won Class C in Section IV in the not-so-distant past. I watched them lose a close one to Sauquoit in regionals back in 2011. They've also outscored opponents by an ungodly number this year, 81-8. 4 players have both double digit goals & assists on the season, led by Kaitlyn Kendle (25 & 12) and Carolyn Krohn (23 & 18). Only one of the four is a senior (Kendle) and Krohn is a freshman. We'll see exactly how good each team is today, and no matter who loses in this 2/7 match, a good team is going home. I'll go against the grain and pick the upset in this one. I pick an upset every day, and I can't help but have the itch that Lockrow & Nichols will turn it up, with Stillwater's defense hanging on for dear life and holding off a very strong Schoharie team juuust long enough. 2-1 for the visitors.
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