Spencerport wins 8th straight, Aquinas back on top: Section V girls soccer champions

CANANDAIGUA — Spencerport's girls soccer team didn't know how to use their hands in commemoration of an unprecedented title run.

Saturday night's 3-0 win over Webster Schroeder in the Section V Class AA final was top-seeded Spencerport's eighth straight championship, setting a new sectional record for consecutive titles. After debating, the Rangers chose to throw up four fingers on each hand to celebrate the history they made at Braves Field.

Lindsay Lenhard played a role in all three goals. Senior keeper Cate Burns approached the Section V and state record books as a subtext to Spencerport's singular team achievement.

"For me it's just fun to be a part of and keep it going," Spencerport coach Jamie Schneider said. "It's a great community that want to give their kids the best experience, and to find success like that is remarkable."

Hours prior, led by "youngsters" like freshman phenom Sienna Fallone, top-seeded Aquinas beat No. 2 Pittsford Sutherland 2-0 in the Class A final for the Irish's first crown since 2017. The Irish's lone loss was to "powerhouse" Spencerport — a 1-0 overtime Sept. 11 setback.

"Then I knew we could play with the best of them," Aquinas coach Adam Schwartz said. "That was the turning point for sure. Up to that point you just don't know. You have so many new players."

What it means

Class AA

Spencerport improved to 20-0-0 and is ranked No. 2 in the state. Burns' Rangers have allowed just two goals all season. They'll advance to next week's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Far West Regionals with hopes of another state final four berth.

Webster Schroeder coach Kent Brown's Warriors, ranked No. 4 in the state, ended the season 17-3-0. All three of their losses were to Spencerport. Sasha Zilist and Kylie Clement found it tough to generate efficient attacks against a Rangers defense closing in on Section V's shutout record.

Class A

Pittsford Sutherland coach Adam Palumbo's Knights fell to 12-4-3 in their second finals trip since 2021. Anna Young and Genevieve Moore's team full of veterans found trouble containing junior Juliana Sevio and her youthful Irish. Sutherland previously lost to Aquinas 1-0 on Oct. 7.

Aquinas won the program's 15th championship thanks to goalkeeper Liz Tantalo's latest postseason clean sheet. The Irish's last section title run resulted in a share of the 2017 Class B state title. Sutherland was older and larger than Aquinas, but Irish defenders like Molly O'Toole and Norah Valentino — one of two Aquinas seniors — still restricted stars Meghan Joerger and Alexa Bova.

Top players

Class AA: Lindsay Lenhard

The Spencerport junior displayed a star-studded performance before a full moon. Her corner kick fed Kendall Mesh the go-ahead goal in the 17th minute. Lenhard netted graceful goals of her own in the 25th and 72nd.

Lenhard began the match at forward before dropping back with Jayda Solomon, Ileana Cheruiyot, Jamie Keens and Isabella Fiorillo to preserve the lead. Lenhard wants to win Spencerport's first state title since co-championing the 2017 tournament.

"The expectation is to be a part of another state championship. ... We're not done. We have unfinished business. But obviously there's steps that we have to take, and this is one of our steps," Lenhard said.

Class A: Sienna Fallone

The freshman's remarkable run resurged Aquinas to Section V glory. The Irish's offense moved as Fallone moved. She scored in the first few minutes and gave Aquinas room to breathe. Her small stature didn't sway her from swimming through Sutherland's stout defense.

"I knew I would get a couple opportunities, and when I got those opportunities I had to be clerical and finish them," Fallone said. "And I knew I had to play fast and be aware of my surroundings. I think I did that. We came out with a win and worked together as a team really well."

Unsung heroes

Cate Burns

Spencerport's senior goalkeeper's latest shutout placed her one shy of tying the Section V record. Burns recorded her 18th clean sheet Saturday, joining Wheatland-Chili's Katherine Vonglis (2016), York's Kaci MacIntyre (2008) and Red Creek's Kimberly Schlegel (2000) in a tie for second.

Jasper-Troupsburg's Elizabeth Groff's 19 shutouts in 2019 remains Section V's shutout standard. Former Section VII Chazy keeper KC Olds owns the state record with 20 clean sheets in 2007.

Kendall Mesh

Spencerport's all-world centerback scored the first goal of the game, connecting on a header with help from Lenhard. It was Mesh's second header against the Warriors this season. Defensively, Mesh's play alongside Anastasia Barczys and Liana Tata shut down keeper Ellie Ockrin's Warriors team's hopes of repeating.

Jaden Deming

The Aquinas freshman scored in 77th minute to shut the door on Sutherland. It was sweet redemption after hitting the post in the 35th. Deming's stylish flip throw-ins were captivating.

Top plays

Class AA

Lenhard's second goal mirrored moves made on FIFA 2023. She tap-danced through a double team on the right side, rushed the endline and fired a shot from just outside the box for a 3-0 lead in the 72nd.

Class A

Deming's goal in the 77th all but won it. Savannah Sweet's perfectly placed long ball landed atop the box. Deming beat goalkeeper Madison Littlefield and two defenders to the ball with no one between her and the net.

Section V championships

Class B

Top-seeded Haverling beat No. 3 Mynderse 2-0. Ella Yartym's state-ranked No. 3 Rams (18-1-0) won their fourth straight title.

Class C1

Samantha Bates helped Holley secure its first title since 1994, scoring both goals in the top-seeded Hawks' 2-1 win over No. 2 Williamson.

Class C2

Mackenzie Hagen scored the overtime game-winner of fourth-seeded Byron-Bergen's 4-3 win over No. 3 Keshequa. Grace DiQuattro's game-tying goal in final seconds of regulation was her second of the game. Mia Gray scored her 32nd goal of the season.

Class D

Fillmore senior Hope Russell scored all four goals in the top seed's 4-0 win over No. 2 Northstar Christian, capturing the Eagles' (19-0-0) third crown in five seasons and first since 2021. Russell extended her Fillmore single season record to 66 goals while approaching the program's career mark. Hope's twin sister Grace leads the section with 36 assists. Fillmore coach Jon Beardsley's nine-time Allegany County champion Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the state.

What's next?

The Class C crossover contest between Holley and Byron-Bergen will be played Wednesday or Thursday to determine a regional qualifier.

Far West Regionals against Section VI's champions begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 as Fairport — which won the Class AAA title on Andrea Wilson's double overtime goal — plays Lancaster. Then Saturday at Webster Schroeder, Class A's Aquinas plays Williamsville South or Lewiston Porter at 1 p.m. Class AA's Spencerport plays Niagara Wheatfield at 4 p.m. Class B's Haverling battles Akron or Allegany-Limestone at 7 p.m.

Caledonia-Mumford will host the other two finals Saturday. Fillmore plays North Collins at 2 p.m. The winner between Byron-Bergen and Holley will play Section VI at 5 p.m.

Regional winners advance to the NYSPHSAA semifinals Saturday, Nov. 11 at SUNY Cortland. State championship matches are Sunday, Nov. 12.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V girls soccer: Aquinas, Spencerport win 2023 championships