Churchville-Chili stuns Spencerport in OT thriller to win first title in 33 years
The Churchville-Chili Saints trailed by a goal at the half of the Section V Class AA Boys Soccer Tournament final, when coach John Mahoney matter-of-factly pointed out the path to win the team's first title since 1990.
The plan had a we've-got-them-right-where-we-want-them sound to it, despite the score and opponent, a Spencerport team the Saints lost to during the regular season.
"All you have to do is shut them out in the second half, score twice and we have the Section V championship," Mahoney recalled Wednesday, the morning after the sectional final at Honeoye Falls-Lima.
Guess what.
The Saints did just that, even with 2022 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Team member Kyle Milburn in the Spencerport lineup and productive, to win 3-2 in overtime.
Play of the game
Elijah Bailey scored the game-winning goal in overtime after he received a pass from Andrew Berardicurti, who had begun to draw defenders toward him before his assist. Bailey's shot was from about 25 to 30 yards out and was deflected by a Rangers defender who attempted to block the scoring chance. "Anything can happen when you shoot," Mahoney said.
By the numbers
1:04 - Time remaining in the second half when Camden Bean, a fullback moved forward during the match, scored with a toe poke for Churchville-Chili to even the score 2-2.
1 - Goal scored by Kyle Milburn on a penalty kick to give the Spencerport Rangers a 1-0 lead.
1 - Goal scored by Churchville-Chili's Aidan Ozkaynak, with an assist credited to Noah Berg, to make the score 1-1 in the first half.
1 - Justice Hinman gave Spencerport a one-goal lead with a minute or two remaining in the first half. Milburn provided an assist.
6 - Number of games in the current unbeaten streak for Churchville-Chili, including a tie with Hilton decided by penalty kicks during the sectional semifinals.
1 - Number of losses suffered by Churchville-Chili in the team's last 12 games.
What's next
Sectional Champs! pic.twitter.com/CzORBQaeY8
— Churchville-Chili HS (@CCCSD_SHS) November 1, 2023
The Saints collected the brick-like Section V trophy and moved into the Class AA state tournament regional or quarterfinal 7:30 p.m. November 4 versus Clarence, the Section VI or Buffalo area champion. The match is at West Seneca West High.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Churchville-Chili stuns Spencerport in overtime, 1st title in 33 years
