Looking Ahead Western Regionals
June 2, 2017 - For the first time, there will be a fourth class and therefore four games played in the Western Regional (NYS quarter finals) which will pit Section VI vs Section V. The games will be held at St. John Fisher College on Saturday. The order of the games is determined by the State Lacrosse Committee and changes each year. This year the order is A-B-C-D and that order will continue throughout the tournament.
Due to construction on campus, the T lot has been designated for handicapped parking, please enter the campus at the East Entrance and the attendant will direct you to the appropriate lot.
Ticket Price for Saturday is $6.00 (good for all four games).
Orchard Park vs Pittsford at 10:00 AM
First up is the Class A game. Orchard Park, a perennial tournament team, is currently at 14-4 is ranked third in Section 6 by Laxpower.com. Three of their four losses were to Section 5 teams. They lost to Canandaigua in early April (17-11) and to Fairport (11-2) at the end of April. They lost to Pittsford on May 19th (16-8). Their only Section 6 loss was to Clarence (9-8). A high scoring team, the Quakers have averaged 13.7 goals per game with only three games under ten goals. They have allowed an average of 8.2 goals against with only six games over ten goals against. The Quakers have won twenty-five Sectional Championships.
Pittsford is currently 17-1 after defeating Fairport for their sixth Section V Championship on Tuesday. Nineteen players have made the offensive scorebook for the Panthers this year. They have registered over 288 points this year, averaging almost 17 points per game while allowing only five goals against. Leading the scoring is Ohio State bound senior midfielder Colby Barker who has 37g-23a. Not far behind are junior John Mozrall (31g-18a) and senior Brennan Mooney (36g-6a). Senior goalie Gavin Catalano has had the most time in the Panther goal and has 117 saves (59%). At face off, Patrick Sullivan has won 185 draws (58%).
Hamburg vs Victor at 12:30 PM
Hamburg, also a perennial Class B champion from Section VI, is currently 13-5 with losses to top teams in their section. The only teams they played from Section Five were losses; one to Canandaigua (14-3) in mid-April and one to Webster Thomas (8-6) in mid-May. Laxpower.com ranks them 5th in Section 6. They had no trouble with Niagara Wheatfield in the sectional finals, beating them 18-5. Their offensive production averages 12.1 goals per game while allowing, on average, 5.7 goals against. Offensively, the leading scorers, both seniors, are Jason Chiodo (37g-25a) and Greg Schneider (36g-9a). Most of the goalie time has gone to junior goalie, Jake Phillips who has 128 saves (59%).
Victor is currently 16-3 with one goal losses to Brother Rice and Jamesville-DeWitt and an 8-5 loss to Canandaigua. Twenty players have made the offensive scorebook for the Blue Devils this year. They have scored 226 goals this year, averaging almost 12 goals per game while allowing only 8.1 goals against. Scoring comes from many directions. Andrew Russell (37g-13a) lead in goals and points and Sam Lambert leads in assists with 20g-27a), but seven players have recorded over twenty-five points, including Mitchell Cain (32g-14a) and Zach Estabrooks (30g-7a). In the cage is Chayse Ierlan, a 58% goalie with 141 saves.
Of course, everyone knows that the blue Devils have won two New York State Championships in the last two years. They have won a total of six Championships, including the last four in a row. The Blue Devils have played against Hamburg four times, with the Blue Devils winning three times.
Grand Island vs Pal-Mac at 3:00 PM
The Grand Island Vikings are at 19-1 with their only loss an 11-8 loss to Eden at the end of April. Their high-powered offense has scored 256 goals this season (12.8 per game) while allowing only 97 (4.9 per game). Only five times have they failed to score double digits. The Vikings defeated West Seneca East (10-6) for the Class C Championship.
Pal-Mac won their first Championship on Tuesday night, having beat HF-L at 16-11. They are 17-2 having only lost to Brighton by one goal and Wayne by one goal. They have averaged 14.5 goals per game while allowing only 4.2 with senior goalie Jared Hurlbutt taking most of the time and averaging 68% saves. Offensively, the leader is senior attackman Brian Burger (67g-53a) who averages 6.5 points per game and has also scored in every game this season. Burger is, however, not the only threat as three others have over thirty goals each this season. James Blazey has 32g-10a, Kasey Gallina has 23g-34a and Joe Lyko has 35g-30a for the Red Raiders.
Akron vs Penn Yan at 5:30 PM
There will be lots of orange at the stadium ast the Tigers from Akron take on the Mustangs from Penn Yan. The Tigers are 17-1 with their only loss, a 12-5 loss to Canisius early in the season. They won their ticket to the NYS Class D tournament with a 7-6 win over Eden on Thursday. That updsted an overtime win to Eden two weeks earlier. The Tiger offense scored more than twice (14.7) more goals than they give up (6.6). The offense comes from four juniors. Owen Hill has 54g-66a, Nelson Logan had 45g-41a, Keenan Ninham has 31g-25 and Weylon Abrams has 26g-15a this season. Symon Jonathan has most of the goaltending time and is a 55% goalie with 130 saves.
The Penn Yan Mustangs enter the States with a record of 10-9. During their regular season they averaged 8.3 goals per game while allowing 6.1 goals against. Senior goalie Kyle Welker has had most of the goalie time and has recorded 112 saves (56%). On the other end of the field junior midfielder Austin Blumbergs is the leader in goal production with 47g-13a and junior Ben Emerson is the assist leader with 26g-31a. Connor Finger (31g-17a) is the third player with over forty points this season.
The Mustangs have won twenty-two Section V Championships and, in 2001 won the NYS championship.
