Victor Faces Stiffest Test Yet as Niskayuna Awaits at SUNY Cortland
SPORTSFIVE REPORT: NISKAYUNA at VICTOR — The last Section V team standing takes on one of Section II's most storied programs Thursday afternoon, as the Victor Blue Devils (20-2) travel to SUNY Cortland for a 4:00 p.m. Class B semifinal showdown against the Niskayuna Silver Warriors (17-3).
Victor has been impressive in the NYS tournament, routing Orchard Park 12-8 in the opening round before Jackson Mead's six-goal, one-assist performance headlined a 17-4
dismantling of Horseheads in the regional quarterfinal, a game that also gave head coach Dan Stone his 100th career win at Victor and pushed sophomore Eli Ricci past 700 career faceoff wins. The Blue Devils are on an eleven-game winning streak and have outscored tournament opponents 29-12.
Niskayuna brings its own momentum to Cortland, having survived back-to-back one-goal thrillers to get here. The Silver Warriors edged Fayetteville-Manlius 14-13 in the regional final on a Parker Kelly goal with less than a minute to play, and haven't lost since April. The 21-time Section II champions are 17-3 with 287 goals on the season, and carry one of the more unusual statistical profiles in the field. They average just 4.6 goals through the first three quarters combined, then erupt for 7.3 in the fourth. The F-M win was no fluke; Niskayuna has been doing this all season.
The teams met once in the regular season, with Victor prevailing 9-6 on April 25 in a game that also marked Ricci's 500th career faceoff win. The sophomore has become one of the most dominant face-off midfielders in Class B, and he will be the central figure again on Thursday. If Victor can control possession and protect a lead into the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils should advance. If Niskayuna can keep it close through three, the Silver Warriors' fourth-quarter track record makes them dangerous.
The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network. The winner advances to the Class B state final at Hobart and William Smith College, in Geneva on Sunday.
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The Head Coaches of Section V considered players who had been nominated for All-American and All-Academic awards. The awards identify some of the best players from each area around the country. Each of the head coaches in the Section is allowed to vote on each of the awards. The selections from our area were then submitted to the USA Lacrosse for final approval.
Academically, nominees needed to have an average GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale). There were also six awards available in Section V and some players were nominated for both awards.
In 2012, USA Lacrosse added an award named for the long-time Johns Hopkins lacrosse coach and Athletic Director, Bob Scott. The annual award is given to a senior of outstanding character, good academic standing and one who demonstrates good sportsmanship and safe play. The winner from Section V, this year, is Isaac Bailey, from Churchville-Chili High School.












Penfield all saw their seasons come to an end.
round at 19-2.13-7. Penn Yan fell to a potent Marcellus attack 19-11, closing out at 17-4 despite Braden Fingar's two goals in his final game. Penfield battled West Genesee throughout but dropped a 14-10 decision, finishing at 15-5 in a season that featured coach John Schembri's 200th career win and a sectional championship.
opening whistle, building a 6-1 first-quarter lead and never looking back in a 19-11 victory that ended Penn Yan's season at 17-4. [
outscored HFL 12-0 after the first quarter to end the Cougars' season 16-4, with Jason Bennett making 21 saves in a losing effort to surpass 500 career saves as HFL closes out at 13-7. [
who advanced Wednesday, sending all four Section V representatives to the State Regional round at Honeoye Falls-Lima High School on Saturday. Penfield rolled past Kenmore 18-6 behind 11 goal-scorers and coach John Schembri's 200th career win, while Penn Yan edged East Aurora 9-6 on a historic five-goal, 200th-career-goal night from Braden Fingar.
goals and an assist to power Penn Yan past East Aurora 9-6 in non-league tournament play at Williamsville North. The Mustangs extended their winning streak to 14 games and improved to 17-3 on the season.
too much to overcome. [
lacrosse, as both HFL and Victor advanced in the NYS Tournament. The Cougars survived a furious Hamburg fourth-quarter rally to escape with an 8-7 win, with Jackson Coon and Grady Goodberlet each scoring three goals to pace the offense. Victor had a little trouble with Orchard Park, but pulled away for a 12-8 victory behind three goals from Colin Wheeler and three assists from Matthew Herendeen. Both teams now await their next opponents as they continue deep postseason runs.
Hamburg fourth-quarter rally to win 8-7 and advance in the NYS Tournament, with Jackson Coon and Grady Goodberlet each netting three goals to lead the way. Sam Jokl dominated the faceoff circle at 78% to help the Cougars control possession and preserve the victory. [




delivered eight home wins across all four classes. In Class A, McQuaid Jesuit edged Rush-Henrietta 11-9 behind three goals each from John Burrows and Dominic Camarella, while Penfield held off Fairport 8-6 on Griffin Banister's three goals. Class B saw Pittsford stay perfect at 18-0 with a 19-4 win over Thomas, and Victor rallied from a deficit with five fourth-quarter goals to edge Hilton 8-6 on Colin Wheeler's four-goal effort. In Class C, Honeoye Falls-Lima's Grady Goodberlet scored five goals in a 14-4 win over Aquinas, and Geneva survived a late Wayne rally to win 6-5 on Ryland Dunham's four goals. Class D produced the day's biggest
milestones, as Pal-Mac's Max Hill and Jackson Dennie reached 150 assists and 200 goals respectively in a 15-4 win over Marcus Whitman, and Penn Yan cruised past Midlakes 19-5 behind five goals each from Braden Fingar and Logan Sprague.
Colin Wheeler's four goals, including two in a decisive five-goal fourth quarter, carried Victor past Hilton 8-6 in a back-and-forth Class B semifinal that featured three ties before the Blue Devils pulled away. The will face Pittsford in the finals on Saturday [
and Avery Valenti's three goals powered undefeated Pittsford to a 19-4 Class B semifinal win over Thomas, setting up a Class B final against Victor. [
o a 6-5 Class C semifinal win over Wayne in a game that wasn't decided until the final minutes, setting up a final against Honeoye Falls-Lima on Saturday. [


Saturday'saction. Pittsford stayed perfect at 17-0 behind Grant Lewis' eight goals, Penn Yan blanked Mynderse-Romulus 18-0 as Tukker Fisher reached 100 career assists, and Geneva's Ryland Dunham scored nine goals for his 200th career tally in a 22-0 shutout of Batavia-Notre Dame. Midlakes' James Sprague hit 100 career goals in an 18-4 quarterfinal win over Bloomfield-Honeoye, and Hilton's Cahlan Smith and Drew Brien each hit milestones — 50 goals and 50 assists — in a 13-6 win over Brighton. Thomas survived Spencerport 12-11 in overtime on Lucas Nuccitelli's late game-winner, and Victor edged Irondequoit 9-6 in a five-tie thriller to extend its winning streak to seven.
as Irondequoit made a strong first-round statement, with Cooper Moore's six goals leading a 19-5 rout of Churchville-Chili. Brighton closed with a 20-3 win over Gates Chili, spreading the scoring across 12 players and celebrating first varsity goals for three players. Canandaigua's Kyle Farrington and Ryan McKeegan combined for seven goals and three assists in a 15-3 win over Schroeder, and Waterloo closed its regular season on a positive note with a 10-6 win over Newark behind three goals each from Jaidyn Ellison and Kyle Shangraw.
his 150th career goal in the Panthers' 16-7 win over McQuaid Jesuit to remain undefeated at 16-0, and Midlakes' Nate Lathrop led a 15-5 road win over Haverling with three goals and five assists to extend the Merge's winning streak to 12. Marcus Whitman rallied from a five-goal deficit to defeat Bloomfield-Honeoye 15-11, with Ayden Clark's five goals and two assists leading the way and goalie Tyler Speers surpassing 400 career saves. East United-Eastridge got four goals and two assists from Payton Terrigino in a 15-3 win over Batavia-Notre Dame, a game that also featured first varsity milestones for three players.
saw Penn Yan extend its winning streak to 10 with a 12-8 win over Fairport behind Tukker Fisher's 150th career goal, while Marcus Whitman's Ayden Clark recorded his 50th career assist in a 15-7 tournament win over Waterloo. Victor's Colin Wheeler poured in six goals to lead the Blue Devils past Brighton 15-6, Honeoye Falls-Lima's Jackson Coon had five goals and three assists in a 16-4 win over Mynderse-Romulus, and Irondequoit held off Spencerport 9-8 in the night's closest game. Thomas rallied from an early deficit to top Aquinas 11-4, and 
Mynderse-Romulus 18-0 as Tukker Fisher reached 100 career assists, and Geneva's Ryland Dunham scored nine goals for his 200th career tally in a 22-0 shutout of Batavia-Notre Dame. Midlakes' James Sprague hit 100 career goals in an 18-4 quarterfinal win over Bloomfield-Honeoye, and Hilton's Cahlan Smith and Drew Brien each hit milestones — 50 goals and 50 assists — in a 13-6 win over Brighton. Thomas survived Spencerport 12-11 in overtime on Lucas Nuccitelli's late game-winner, and Victor edged Irondequoit 9-6 in a five-tie thriller to extend its winning streak to seven.
four goals, Tukker Fisher's milestone 100th career assist, and a three-goalie shutout highlighted Penn Yan's 18-0 win over Mynderse-Romulus, stretching the Mustangs' winning streak to 11. [
nine-goal, milestone 200th career goal performance headlined Geneva's 22-0 shutout of Batavia-Notre Dame, with Jack Dunham and Dominic Gaglianese each adding three goals. [
leading a 19-5 rout of Churchville-Chili. Brighton closed with a 20-3 win over Gates Chili, spreading the scoring across 12 players and celebrating first varsity goals for three players. Canandaigua's Kyle Farrington and Ryan McKeegan combined for seven goals and three assists in a 15-3 win over Schroeder, and Waterloo closed its regular season on a positive note with a 10-6 win over Newark behind three goals each from Jaidyn Ellison and Kyle Shangraw.



as Pittsford's Avery Valenti scored his 150th career goal in the Panthers' 16-7 win over McQuaid Jesuit to remain undefeated at 16-0, and Midlakes' Nate Lathrop led a 15-5 road win over Haverling with three goals and five assists to extend the Merge's winning streak to 12. Marcus Whitman rallied from a five-goal deficit to defeat Bloomfield-Honeoye 15-11, with Ayden Clark's five goals and two assists leading the way and goalie Tyler Speers surpassing 400 career saves. East United-Eastridge got four goals and two assists from Payton Terrigino in a 15-3 win over Batavia-Notre Dame, a game that also featured first varsity milestones for three players.
tournament win over Bloomfield-Honeoye, with Braiden Schneider's four goals pushing him past 50 career goals for the visitors. [

extend its winning streak to 10 with a 12-8 win over Fairport behind Tukker Fisher's 150th career goal, while Marcus Whitman's Ayden Clark recorded his 50th career assist in a 15-7 tournament win over Waterloo. Victor's Colin Wheeler poured in six goals to lead the Blue Devils past Brighton 15-6, Honeoye Falls-Lima's Jackson Coon had five goals and three assists in a 16-4 win over Mynderse-Romulus, and Irondequoit held off Spencerport 9-8 in the night's closest game. Thomas rallied from an early deficit to top Aquinas 11-4, and Livonia-Avon-Geneseo's Rider VanZandt notched his 50th career goal in an 18-2 win over Gananda.
deficit to roll past Aquinas 11-4, with Logan Muisus (4g) and Lucas Estelle (2g-2a) leading the offense. Eighth-grader Jayden Bradford notched his first varsity goal and assist, while Jake Gibson made 20 saves in a losing effort for Aquinas.
and Tariku Blueye, carried Marcus Whitman to a 15-7 tournament win over Waterloo. [
produced a pair of tight finishes and several standout performances. McQuaid Jesuit's Aidan O'Brien scored in overtime to complete an eight-goal rally and stun Hilton 8-7, while Haverling goalie McLane Stermole stopped 21 shots to lift his team past East United-Eastridge 10-9 after trailing by six after the first quarter. Bloomfield-Honeoye's Brayden Arber turned in the night's top individual effort with eight goals and five assists in a 19-7 win over Gates Chili, and Penfield's Gabe Robards led an 11-player scoring effort in a 17-2 win over Churchville-Chili.
Aidan O'Brien scored the overtime winner Monday night as McQuaid Jesuit defeated Hilton 8-7, with John Burrows and Dominic Camarella each contributing two goals and two assists, while Hilton's Drew Brien reached his 50th career assist in the loss. [

week defined by individual milestones as players across the region reached career landmarks in goals, saves, and faceoff wins. Highlights included Brodie Joyce becoming Penfield's all-time career goal scorer, Hunter Kurdziolek and Carter Casper each notching their 50th career goals, James Maccallini reaching 100, and Trey Rodriguez setting a Batavia-Notre Dame record with his 200th career faceoff win. On the team side, Hilton extended its winning streak to 11, Pittsford stayed perfect at 13-0, and Penn Yan won its seventh straight.
scoring five goals to lift Spencerport past HF-L 10-9 in the night's closest game, with Benny Feinberg reaching 100 career faceoff wins for the Cougars. Schroeder's JD Stockmann scored five goals in a 13-0 win over Gates Chili as Joel Ekstrom and Robert Kenny each scored their first career varsity goals. Thomas beat Fairport 14-7 as Jake Nicolay and Carter Chase each scored three goals and Fairport's Corey Roeser reached 500 career faceoff wins. Brighton beat Churchville-Chili 15-1 with Dominic Marra making 20 saves in goal for C-C, and Mynderse-Romulus beat Waterloo 13-7 behind four goals and three assists from Trace Parish.
over Gananda with Maxwell Marquart scoring his first career varsity goal.
Mynderse-Romulus 17-1, Geneva's Ryland Dunham scored six goals in an 18-2 win over Gananda, and Wayne's Shane Coleman scored six in a 12-10 win over Marcus Whitman.
Irondequoit at Spencerport, and Brighton at Victor.
18-10 win over JD, Midlakes extended its winning streak to 11 with an 11-4 win over Aquinas, and Wayne rallied from two goals down in the final minutes to beat HF-L 11-10 in overtime on Shane Coleman's tying goal with three seconds left and Paxton Landon's winner. Bloomfield-Honeoye coach Joe Sidari earned his 100th win as Brayden Arber scored seven goals in a 16-3 win over Medina, Penn Yan's Braden Fingar and Miles Ditzell each scored five goals in a 16-9 win over Lake Shore, and McQuaid beat General Brown 14-5 as Domenic Giangreco went 19 for 19 on faceoffs. 
consecutive goals to take control and beat Canandaigua 14-6 Saturday afternoon, with AJ Sterman scoring three goals and Peyton Fritz going 19 for 23 on faceoffs in a losing effort, while freshman Jack Dedrick recorded his first career varsity assist. [
Ditzell each scored five goals and Greyson Hathway went 23 for 26 on faceoffs as Penn Yan beat Lake Shore 16-9 Saturday to extend its winning streak to nine and move to 12-3. [
reaching 100 career faceoff wins for the Cougars. Schroeder's JD Stockmann scored five goals in a 13-0 win over Gates Chili as Joel Ekstrom and Robert Kenny each scored their first career varsity goals. Thomas beat Fairport 14-7 as Jake Nicolay and Carter Chase each scored three goals and Fairport's Corey Roeser reached 500 career faceoff wins. Brighton beat Churchville-Chili 15-1 with Dominic Marra making 20 saves in goal for C-C, and Mynderse-Romulus beat Waterloo 13-7 behind four goals and three assists from Trace Parish.
coming from Churchville-Chili goalie Dominic Marra who made 20 saves in a losing effort. [
from Nate Lathrop, while Colby Klatt scored his first career varsity goal and Caleb Beadnell reached 50 career assists for the Panthers. Pal-Mac extended its streak to ten as well with a 12-5 win over Geneva as Reid Diehl scored four goals and Geneva's Marco Palmisano scored his first career varsity goal.
five goals and Walker Landschoot added six assists as Midlakes beat Bloomfield-Honeoye 22-5 Thursday evening to extend its winning streak to ten, with Colby Klatt scoring his first career varsity goal and Caleb Beadnell reaching 50 career assists for Bloomfield-Honeoye. [
Terrigino scored nine goals and John Hart added three assists as East United-Eastridge beat Gates Chili 12-4 Wednesday evening to move to 5-8. [
also hitting his 50th career goal in the loss. [
Canandaigua 6-5 Wednesday evening in a game tied four times, with Kyle Farrington scoring three goals in a losing effort. [


