Recapping a busy weekend of State Championships in Field Hockey and Boys and Girls Soccer
Over the weekend, the season came to a close for three sports as the NYSPHSAA State Championships were held in Boys and Girls Soccer, as well as Field Hockey. For Section 2, several teams fought, but only two came away with Championships.
FIELD HOCKEY
Burnt Hills caps a playoff run keeping all opponents scoreless as the Spartans clinch the Class B Championship over Section 1's Lakeland, 3-0 at Arlington High School. For the Spartans, this caps a 21-0 perfect season where they allowed only four goals all season.
21-0
— BHBL Field Hockey (@BHBLFH) November 17, 2024
4 goals allowed all season
0 goals allowed in state run
3 corners allowed in state run
1 shot/1 save by KK Fish in state run
17 shutouts - proud of this team- all the grind, FH weekends, late practices-“there are no secrets to success” ❤️this team❤️ @BHBLAthletics pic.twitter.com/pxqHVDOcpu
On Saturday, Burnt Hills had beat Garden City of Long Island's Nassau County 3-0 to advance to the Championship. This is the third title for the Spartans, and their second in four years. In 2021, Burnt Hills beat Garden City 2-1 for the title down on Long Island.
In Class A, Mamaroneck goes back-to-back, but Guilderland made them earn the championship as the Lady Dutch took Mamaroneck to Double Overtime before giving up the game-winning goal.
Guilderland finishes 2nd in the state after falling 2-1 to Mamaroneck. Amazing season for this group of ladies. Nothing to hang your head down on. @theAEnews @GoDutchAthletix @GuilderlandFH pic.twitter.com/oRFyD4HVfp
— Mike Koff (@Mike_Photograph) November 17, 2024
GIRLS SOCCER
Lexi Ginter scores the lone tally as the Northville Falcons claim the NYSPHSAA Class D Championship in Cortland, beating Section 3's Copenhagen 1-0. It is the first title in school history for the Falcons, who last made it to the State Championship in 2011. That crew lost to Chazy 1-0.
New York State Class D State Champions!!! pic.twitter.com/03eXgZawWt
— Northville Athletics (@NCSFalcons) November 17, 2024
Stillwater forced a scoreless overtime against Byron-Bergen of Section 5, but was scored upon in the Sudden Victory session to become runners up in Class C, 1-0. Columbia fell to Albertus Magnus 2-1 in Class AA.
Saratoga Springs fell in the semifinals to Arlington, 5-0.
BOYS SOCCER
For only the second time ever, Section 2 brought five teams to the State Final Four. While those five teams came up empty on the titles, the Capital Region soccer scene showed a lot of fight in Middletown.
Loudonville Christian lost to eventual State Champions North Salem from Section 1, 3-0 in the Class C Semifinals on Friday. In Class AA on Saturday, Bethlehem gets shut out as they fall to Clarence 2-0.
But Section 2 did have some semifinal success. Northville played their third straight overtime game as they beat Section 7's powerhouse Chazy 2-1 to advance to the championship. In Class A, Schalmont had to survive their third overtime in four games as Aiden Lawrence beat the Brockport keeper in the extra frame to win 2-1. And Shaker denied Section 1's Scarsdale a three peat as they won 2-1 in a game where they were outshot.
All three were denied in the State Championships. Northville was shut out by a strong Hamilton from Section 3, 3-0. Schalmont struggled to find opportunities as they got shut out by Nassau County's Floral Park 2-0. The Sabres were outshot 8-0 in the first frame and only in the second half were able to get shots onto the Knights keeper. Shaker pushed Fairport to double overtime in Class AAA, but the Blue Bison's season came to an end 4 minutes into the second overtime as Fairport scores to claim the title, 2-1.
UPCOMING
With this weekend behind us, attention turns to the two remaining fall sports in play. Boys and Girls Volleyball takes center focus this weekend.
For the girls, four Section 2 teams come to the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. Shenendehowa (AAA), Burnt Hills (A), Stillwater (C) and Mekeel Christian Academy (D). Shenenendehow and Mekeel Christian Academy play pool play on Friday, with Burnt Hills and Stillwater slated to begin their round robin pool play on Saturday.
The Boys Volleyball championships will be at the Albany City Center in Downtown Albany. Shenendehowa is the lone Section 2 representative after defeating North Rockland 3 sets to 0 on Saturday.
In Football, Averill Park claimed their first ever Section 2 title after beating Burnt Hills in Class A. CBA claimed the Class AA title. Glens Falls surpassed Ravena to claim the B title. Schuylerville won the C title and Greenwich took the D title.
The Regional Finals are this weekend, with games being played at Potsdam, Beekmantown, Shenendehowa and Lansingburg. This leads into Thanksgiving Weekend's East Finals to be played at Middletown High School. The Championships are at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse the following weekend.
