Straight semifinal action now! Just a pair of boys semis, one in Class A & one in D, but the girls take the stage as 60% of the finalists will be determined by tonight, including both finalists in Class AA & A. Who do I like tonight?
Boys Soccer
Fulton vs. Marcellus (at Liverpool) - Marcellus has done just fine with the move up to Class A this year. After kind of a shaky start, they've won 7 of their last 8. Fulton's had a nice run so far as the 7 seed, winning a pair of games against Utica area teams to get this far. The 2nd was against previously undefeated 2 seed VVS. Both squads are clustered in the scoring column, with no one dominating the load. The leading scorer between the two squads has 8 goals. Both teams improved against competition as the season went on, but Marcellus is slightly better against common opponents. Maybe that's why they're the higher side. I'll pick the 6 seed to advance to finals in a 3-2 game.
Cincinnatus @ Copenhagen - The Class D bracket has been wild... at least on one side. This top half has been all chalk, with this being a 1/4 semifinal. Cincy may be the 4 seed, but losing isn't in their DNA - just 1 loss on the season. Common opponent (McGraw) shows they have every shot of winning this game. However, I've clearly shown that I've understated the Frontier Ds this year. The other quarterfinal - a 14/7 matchup - features Frontier teams that knocked out 3rd seeded Bishop Ludden, 6th seeded Old Forge, and 2nd seeded Owen D. Young. Copenhagen handled both of these teams easily. This might be the best game left in the Class D bracket, and I pick the winner of this to be a big favorite in the finals, but I'll give it to Copenhagen by the slightest of margins. 3-2 final, and they might need extra time to do it.
Girls Soccer
West Genesee @ Cicero-North Syracuse (at CBA) - The CNYCL has been competitive all year long, with the difference in opponents not being too great. The Northstars have the top seed because of how dominant they've been on the defensive end, and they'll ride to the finals in a 2-0 W.
Liverpool vs. Baldwinsville (at CBA) - They split the season series - Liverpool winning 1-0, Baldwinsville winning 2-0 in OT - so this should be another beaut. The Bees have won 12 of 13 since starting 2-2, and Liverpool hasn't taken a loss since Baldwinsville a day short of a month ago. This one's a dead heat, and I'll roll with Liverpool by a nose... or an Ore Akinpelu boot. 1-0 final.
Whitesboro vs. Jamesville-Dewitt (at Chittenango) - Don't they always play each other in sectionals? Don't they always play in Chittenango? I've watched J-D win the finals in this scenario more than once. It's the semis now, and each of these teams just seems to retool. A couple years ago, J-D and their high D1 recruit (Jess Holmes, who moved on to Boston College) beat Whitesboro and theirs (Ashley Williams, who took her next step to Syracuse). Now it's Paige Sherling and company against Mariah Williams - Ashley's sister, a UAlbany Great Dane commit. Whitesboro has the best player in Williams, J-D has the best team. 2-1 Red Ewes.
East Syracuse Minoa vs. Marcellus (at Liverpool) - Marcellus girls have also handled the jump to A just fine, and I think they'll also advance to the finals. ES-M made it to the finals from the 7 seed last year, so they have this whole 7th seed thing down. For the 2nd straight year, they beat a 10 and a 2 to get to the semis. I don't think they'll beat the 3 this time. Belvito & Co. know how to win - that's all they do, and I've got them advancing with a 3-1 victory.
Cazenovia vs. Lowville (at Camden) - You had to give me the hard one, didn't you? Cazenovia has firepower up front, Lowville doesn't let anyone score.. pretty much literally. Caz has a pair of players with 20+ goals on the season, with Audrey Burbidge near the top of the section at 34. They've lost 3 games - which is as many games lost as goals given up by Lowville. I get it, I know, I don't give the North Country much love. They're proving me wrong this year. I'm going to do it again, though. Lowville is traditionally strong but they haven't bumped up against the type of offense that Cazenovia has, and with them being a team that isn't the most adept scoring squad, a couple Laker goals can mean a big problem. I'll take Caz, 2-1.
Sauquoit vs. Tully (at Chittenango) - The problem with choosing winners in semifinals is they're so damn hard to pick. There's a reason teams get this far generally. Sauquoit tends to play to the level of their competition. They don't blow bad teams out, but they beat really good teams. Tully tends to be in go mode, and they're tough defensively. The Indians have firepower up front with Jenna Mazza, Nakeya Stedman, and Elma Sarajlija (40 goals between them, and Mazza has 16 assists as well), more than anything Tully has seen. They're certainly a little more used to the moment too - tough one, but I'll take the 3 seed 3-2.
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