The first day of practice for Pelham hockey team at Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon Nov. 7, 2016.

MOUNT VERNON – Winning is a habit for Pelham.

The history of success is also the primary source of concern for longtime head coach Ed Witz, whose team has captured three consecutive Section 1 titles. A chilly dose of reality was injected each time his team huddled up at the Ice Hutch on Monday, the first day of practice for Section 1 hockey teams.

And there will be a multitude of reminders along the way.

“The seniors have won three Section 1 titles and you have to guard a little bit against them starting to believe it’s automatic,” Witz said. “Everybody makes assumptions in their lives when something happens every day, but you still have to do the work.

“Whatever happened in the last year, the last two years, the last three years means nothing in 2016-17. They have to understand they actually have to go out and do the work. It’s not going to be easy.”

Despite the success, this group is a little grumpy.

A state title was certainly the goal each of the last three seasons, but Pelham has not cleared that hurdle.

“We’re more experienced this year,” defenseman Gib Smith said. “We’ve gotten so close the last couple of years, I think we’re more motivated. We have a lot of guys who compete hard and want to win.”

And they are usually a patient bunch.

“We can’t focus on the regional game and getting to states,” said forward Ben Hurd, who is the reigning Journal News/lohud Player of the Year. “We have to win sectionals first to get back to that point. … We don’t care what our record is. We’re more concerned about being the best team we can be going into playoffs.”

The biggest losses to graduation are defenseman Nick Davidow and goalie A.J. Gugliara. Only two forwards are gone from the top three lines. Justin Ming and Liam Ronan are battling for time in net.

“We’ve got two guys that I’m projecting will be able to play,” Witz said. “We are usually a one-man show, but it might be different.”

Nat Heintz and Stefan Miklakos are the other standouts coming back up front.

There is plenty of depth and experience returning. Witz is likely going to carry 20 or 21 players this season. And the schedule is dialed back. The Pelicans will be venturing upstate in search of quality opponents, but they will spend more time at the Ice Hutch.

With the new power leagues, there will be very few easy wins.

“The difficult schedule puts us in tough situations and we learn a lot from those games,” Smith said. “It gets us ready to compete at the end and be at our best.”

Pelham opens the season Nov. 26 at Suffern.

A number of upstate powers are coming to the Ice Hutch for the second year in a row to play some of the section’s best Dec. 9-11. McQuaid, Ithaca, Niagara-Wheatfield, Williamsville-East and Sweet Home are on the bill along with Scarsdale, Rye, Suffern and the Pelicans.

Twitter:  @LoHudHockey

The first day of practice for Pelham hockey team at Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon Nov. 7, 2016.

Russell Mazzano during the first day of practice for Pelham hockey team at Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon Nov. 7, 2016.

HIGH SCHOOL

Monday’s events

Volleyball

FAA playoffs

Holy Child 3, St. Luke’s 0

Tuesday’s events

Volleyball

NYSPHSAA Regional semifinals

At SUNY Ulster

Class AA: Ossining vs. Minisink Valley (Section 9), 3 p.m.

Boys

Section 1 tournament

Finals at Suffern

TBA vs. Suffern, 5 p.m.

Wednesday’s events

Volleyball

NYSPHSAA Regional semifinals

At SUNY Ulster

Class B: Westlake vs. Spackenkill (Section 9), 3 p.m.

Class A: Panas vs. Cornwall (Section 9), 5 p.m.

FAA playoffs

semifinals

Holy Child at Convent of the Sacred Heart, 4:30 p.m.

Action shots between Somers and Goshen at the Class A boys soccer regional finals at Middletown High School on Nov. 4, 2016. Somers won 2-0.

As far as the history of boys soccer in Section 1 is concerned, this past weekend could go down as the start of something big or a nice story with an anticlimactic ending.

For the first time since 2008, local teams completed a sweep in the regional finals. Somers (Class A) and Hastings (Class B) won in convincing fashion, while New Rochelle (Class AA) and North Salem (Class C) survived overtime thrillers to keep their storybook seasons alive.

“It’s almost a sense of unity in Section 1, and the more successful you become, the more pride you feel,” New Rochelle coach Jarohan Garcia said. “Seeing the talent is amazing. You look at Hastings, and that’s a team that can play with anyone. It’s pretty amazing that Section 1 went 4 for 4.”

To keep the winning streak going will be a serious challenge.

Section 1 hasn’t claimed a state championship in boys soccer since Arlington won Class AA in 2012, and titles have been a rarity since the current class system was implemented in 2004. The section has won it all just five times in the last 12 years — Arlington in ’06 and ’12, Byram Hills (Class A) in ’07, Bronxville (Class B) in ’08 and Keio (Class C) in ’04 — which has led to a statewide reputation for mediocrity.

If even just one of the four remaining teams is able to capture a state title this weekend at Middletown High, it would be a momentous achievement. If more than one can do it, it would send a reverberating message throughout the state.

“We had three go in (to the state semifinals) last year, and we got bounced in the first game,” Hastings coach Fred Sandhop said. “Pearl River and Schechter made it to the final, and unfortunately didn’t bring it home. This is kind of like a second chance. Section 1 has been creeping up and it really is a great feat to bring four communities and their pride for Section 1 to states.”

COLUMN: New Ro and Somers accomplish rare feats in soccer and football

For the large schools, the biggest obstacle will be the Long Island champions. Our neighbors to the south have dominated the fields in Classes AA and A, claiming five of the last six titles in AA and seven of the last eight in A. (That includes a tie in 2013.)

New Rochelle and Ithaca in the boys soccer regional semifinal at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak Nov. 2, 2016

New Rochelle and Somers will be pitted against Long Island opponents in the state semis on Saturday — Section 8’s Calhoun for the Huguenots and Section 11’s Amityville for the Tuskers.

“They’re a typical Long Island team,” Garcia said of the Colts after watching them beat Brentwood 3-2 in overtime on Sunday. “They’re organized, they’re good defensively and they know how to put their chances away. They’re not going to make mistakes and beat themselves. I’m expecting a hard game — an 80-minute battle.”

Somers may be in for an even tougher battle against the Warriors, who beat Pearl River in last year’s state final for the championship. But the Tuskers have been playing their best soccer of the year in recent weeks, with four shutouts in six playoff games. In two regional games, they outscored their opponents 5-0.

“I just think that the boys at this point are so focused,” Somers coach Brian Lanzetta said. “The urgency that we’ve been playing with is to try to get the first goal and then break teams down.”

Hastings and North Salem won’t have to worry about any Long Island teams in the small school ranks. And in the Yellow Jackets’ case, that’s because they just eliminated Section 8 champ Carle Place with a 4-0 statement win.

Hastings’ Jackson Silverstein (11) celebrates with Diego Rodriguez (13) after scoring to put the Yellow Jackets up 3-0 during a New York State Class B regional final game between Hastings and Carle Place at Mitchell Field in Garden City on Saturday, Nov. 5th, 2016.

Many observers believe that Hastings has the best opportunity to bring a state title back to Section 1, in part because it experienced this stage last season. The Jackets will get Section 2’s Ichabod Crane in the state semis and North Salem will take on Section 10’s Potsdam.

“I don’t think you get this far without having some kind of asset,” North Salem coach Ron Hendrie said. “There’s a lot of ways to be strong in soccer — sometimes you’re fast, sometimes you’re skilled, sometimes you’re just really physical and strong. I’m not sure what they’re bringing to the game, but we’ll find out.”

North Salem’s Mark Ribaudo, left, attempts to control the ball as John Guerra of Seward pressures him during the Class C Regional Game at Byram Hills High School on Nov. 5, 2016.

Between the four local teams heading up to Middletown, the odds of Section 1 winning at least one championship are as great as they’ve been in the six years I’ve been covering the sport.

Now all that’s left to do is see who, if anyone, can get it done and be remembered as champions.

“We don’t think anyone is going to beat us unless we beat ourselves,” Sandhop said. “We truly believe that, but looking at the competition, we thought that (defending champion) Elmira Notre Dame was really good, and they lost. It’s high school soccer. Who shows up and has that heart and plays that near perfect game, that’s going to be your victor.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Stewart Hagestad, 25, is the 2016 MGA player of the year. Among his three victories this past summer is the Brae Burn Invitational.

Stewart Hagestad can officially take a bow.

The 25-year-old Manhattan resident is the Metropolitan Golf Association’s player of the year and will be honored Dec. 7 at the organization’s annual dinner and meeting at Westchester Country Club.

Hagestad, who plays out of Deepdale, came back to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in dramatic fashion. Locally, he won the Met Amateur Championship and the Brae Burn Invitational.

The Newport Beach, Calif. native finished with 1,273 total points, the highest total since Mike Miller ran up 1,330 in 2012.

“For as short a time that I’ve been a golfer in the Met area, I’m lucky enough to be in the same sentence as the guys before me and be on that list of champions,” said Hagestad, who came east two summers ago.

MGA Jerry Courville Sr. Player of the Year Award

Final standings

1. Stewart Hagestad (Deepdale) 1,273

2. Trevor Randolph (Arcola) 1.185

3. Darin Goldstein (Noyac) 580

3. Brian Komline (Black Oak) 580

5. Ethan Ng (Fiddler’s Elbow) 455

6. Mike Stamberger (Spring Lake) 395

7. Jonathan Jeter (Nassau Players) 382

8 Kieran Purcell (Essex County) 378

9. Tyler Cline (Tuxedo) 365

10. Dennis Lynch (Nassau Players) 344

(For the complete standings, click here to go the MGA website.)

STONE RIDGE – The players on the current Ossining volleyball roster were small children when the school won its first Section 1 title in 2004. It would be more than a decade before the program would get its next taste of the New York state tournament.

After a crushing loss to Minisink Valley in the state regional semifinals Tuesday, Ossining is hoping that the wait won’t be as long for the next bite.

The Pride (20-2), who saw their remarkable season come to an end at SUNY Ulster, will graduate just one starting senior from this year’s team. Ossining ran through the section before being halted by Minisink Valley, the Section 9 champion, meaning the Pride could very well return to the state tournament as early as next year.

That’s certainly the plan Ossining has in mind.

“I do think that now that we have this experience under our belt — almost all of my team coming back next year — it’s not going to be something new, it’s not going to be something foreign,” Ossining head coach Lauren Riccardi said, following the 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 28-26 loss. “They learned a lot from today, and that’s what we’re going to take out of today.

“Today was a learning day.”

Ossining struggled out of the gate, appearing lethargic and without its trademark high-octane energy in the first two sets of the match. Minisink Valley scored 15 points in the first set without touching a ball thanks to Ossining service errors, net calls, and setting errors.

Riccardi said the locker room was silent after the match, which ended on an Ossining block that sailed out of bounds. Pride players said pushing the Warriors (17-1) to the brink in the final set cushioned the blow of the loss.

“Losing at this stage, I think that, I don’t know,” said Molly Haag, the team’s lone starting senior, in between heavy breaths. “Maybe it hurts less, because we know we were right there.”

Ossining outside hitter Mychael Vernon ended her sensational freshman year with a match-high 39 kills. Cassidy Smith paced the Warriors with 13 kills.

Ossining junior Lauren Ojito was overheard before the start of the fourth set trying to rally the team, telling her teammates, “This is our year!” With the season now concluded, Ojito has high hopes for next year.

“I think we’re capable of so much more next year,” she said. “I just think we’ll try our best and we’ll try 10 times harder than we did this year.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

Ossining junior Lauren Ojito (right) digs a ball in the final set of a Class AA state regional volleyball semifinal at SUNY Ulster.

Ossining junior Lauren Ojito (right) digs a ball in the final set of a Class AA state regional volleyball semifinal at SUNY Ulster.

Suffern hockey captains Teddy Bristow and David Rozitis are talking more about team and less about individuals heading into the 2016-17 season.

MONSEY – It’s hard to fathom, but Suffern might be rebuilding.

The most celebrated hockey program in the area has played for a Section 1 title each of the past seven years. Nobody is complaining, but the Mounties have not celebrated a championship since 2013 and they have some lineup issues to sort out before the new season gets under way later this month.

In a community that relishes Friday nights at Sport-O-Rama, that’s a drought.

“The goal is to get back to winning Section 1 titles and doing what Suffern teams used to do,” senior co-captain Teddy Bristow said.

CAMP STOP: Pelham gets right to work on another Section 1 hockey title

PRESEASON HOCKEY: The power leagues are back in play

LAST YEAR: Will Kirk propels Mamaroneck to a Section 1 title

Ruling out another championship run would be foolish at this point because the Mounties traditionally win more games with depth than individual talent. Establishing the kind of chemistry needed to skate away from other traditional powers was high on the list of priorities as 31 hopefuls went up and down the ice at practice on Tuesday.

No more than 26 will make the final cut.

“Going in, we have a senior class that hasn’t won in three years and it’s obviously not something they are happy with,” Suffern coach Rob Schelling said.

So far, the alumni have been compassionate.

“They obviously want the program to succeed,” senior co-captain David Rozitis said. “They give us positive criticism or positive advice. They don’t want us to graduate without winning a Section 1 title, either.”

Scarsdale’s Robbie Kramer pressures Suffern’s David Rozitis during their game at the E.J. Murray rink in Yonkers Dec. 7, 2015. Scarsdale won 1-0.

C.J. Greco, Tim Patwell and Sean Gordon all graduated. Reed Stark and Troy Daniels were probably the most gifted players on the 2015-16 roster and they both left the program.

It changes the approach.

“Everybody realizes it’s about chemistry now and how we play as a team,” Bristow said. “Everybody has to step up.”

The defense has to deliver game to game.

Ryan Fueg is taking over in goal and the senior is expected to make a positive impact from the start.

“His story is so good,” Schelling said. “He was a defenseman on modified. His freshman year I went down for the first day of tryouts and we had an extra goalie. I didn’t know what was going on, but over the last three years he’s done nothing but work his butt off.

“We’ve had a couple of kids in the past who only started as seniors and had incredible seasons. We’re hoping Ryan is another one of them.”

Rozitis is a physical defender capable of leaving a mark.

Up front, the Mounties will rely on the likes of Evan Cama, Shaun Greenberg, Kyle Foresta and Matt Olsen.

“We don’t have that guy who is going to score that beautiful goal like we’ve had in the past,” Rozitis said. “Our goalie will make great saves and our defense can win us games.”

It’s a formula that’s worked fine in the past.

“Offensively, we’re going to be OK,” Schelling said. “We are going to be totally team-oriented. We’re not going to rely on any one guy. The work ethic is there so I think were OK with that.”

Twitter:  @hoopsmbd

Suffern’s boys volleyball team poses after winning the Section 1 title over Clarkstown North at Suffern High School on Tuesday, Nov. 8th, 2016.

SUFFERN – It was considered almost a foregone conclusion that the Suffern boys volleyball team would win its eighth Section 1 title in nine years, but Clarkstown North must have missed the memo.

The Rams won two of the first three sets in Tuesday’s championship match, allowing thoughts of a devastating upset to creep into the Mounties’ minds.

“It was kind of shocking,” Suffern senior Evan Margolin said. “They really came out like they wanted it, possibly even more than us.”

Suffern had beaten Clarkstown North five times during its undefeated regular season, but the Mounties found themselves on the brink of elimination heading into the fourth set.

The Mounties responded with the wills of champions, winning the final two sets convincingly, 25-15 and 25-16, to take the match by a 3-2 score.

The victory was especially sweet after Clarkstown South snapped Suffern’s streak of seven straight titles last season.

“Since the start of the program in 2008, we’d won seven straight until last year,” Teddy Bristow said. “Last year was a big letdown, so this year was kind of trying to get back to it and return to normalcy and get another one. It’s our senior year, so we didn’t want to be the team who lost twice.”

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Ossining bows out in Class AA regional semifinal

SECTIONALS: Section 1 tournament recap

The Rams showed that they came to play by winning the first set, 25-20, before the Mounties evened the score with a 25-21 win in the second set. They went up 15-10 in the third, but upset-minded North rallied to take it 26-24 and move into the lead.

“It was a great game back-and-forth,” Bristow said. “That was pretty tough going down because the third game is really big. It’s 1-1, and whoever gets the next one is only one win away. It’s a really big momentum swing and just the fact that we came back from being down so low really shows who we are as a team.”

The tone-setter for Suffern (19-0) in the final two sets was junior Nick Cimillo, who had several emphatic kills to win some critical points.

“He’s definitely a game-changer and scores a lot of points for us,” Margolin said.

The Mounties left no doubt by closing out the final two sets by comfortable margins, which sends them into regional play on Thursday. They’ll face off against Section 2 champion Shenendehowa at 7 p.m. at Clarkstown South High.

“I’m really happy with the way we finished,” Bristow said. “That’s who we are, and that team that we played like in the last two sets – that’s going to carry us.”

Twitter:   @vzmercogliano

Pawling celebrates after completing a sweep of Millbrook in the Class C state regional semifinal at SUNY Ulster. Nov. 8, 2016.

STONE RIDGE – Pawling High School volleyball head coach Jessica Pulford made a habit of writing a poem for her team whenever they reached the Section 1 Class C final, and reciting it to them before the championship match. When she failed to do so this year, Tigers players pressured her to have one ready for Tuesday’s state regional semifinal against Section 9’s Millbrook.

“My team got really mad. I didn’t even know how much like they really liked the poem,” Pulford said, following a 28-26, 25-17, 25-12 sweep of last year’s state finalist Blazers at SUNY Ulster. “Apparently they really like when I ‘spit fire,’ that’s what they call it.”

Pulford started her night with a long exhale, after the team grinded out a nail-biting first set, and ended it with an ear-to-ear smile. Pawling has struggled out of the gate most of the season, Pulford said, but plays at another level once it gets comfortable.

“I think we were playing nervous,” Pulford said of the first set. “I told my kids, ‘Pedal to the metal — don’t let up.’”

The Tigers will face Section 4 champion Tioga in the Class C state regional final Saturday at Corning-Painted Post High School at 4 p.m.

Pawling senior outside hitter Jaclyn Smith said the poem “fired us up” and helped ease some of the nerves. “She writes a pretty good poem,” Smith said, chuckling, adding that the team was out for “revenge” after Millbrook ended Pawling’s season last year.

Pawling (18-0) led the entirety of the final two sets, cruising to much easier wins than the opening set presented.

POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL: Pawling heads into Class C final not speaking of record

COLUMN: With success comes celebrity, expectations

BACK-TO-BACK: Dobbs Ferry falls to Pawling in Class C final rematch

Millbrook head coach Shawn Stoliker said he can see Pawling reaching the state semifinals at the Glens Falls Civic Center, which would be the Tigers’ next stop if victorious Saturday.

“The past few times we’ve been that far our defense has carried us there, and Pawling’s defense matched right up with ours, absolutely,” Stoliker said. “Having two legitimate hitters and being able to play defense like that, I think they’ve got a good chance.”

Millbrook was without starting outside hitter Sam McKenna on Tuesday, after the sophomore rolled her ankle in physical education class earlier in the day. Stoliker was thrilled with his team’s performance in McKenna’s absence.

“I’m really happy with what took place out there,” Stoliker said, grinning. “Besides that, would it have made a difference? (McKenna) is a great player. I don’t know, to be honest with you, but I’m happy with the girls that went out there and played.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

HIGH SCHOOL

Tuesday’s results

Field Hockey

Greenwich Academy 4, RCDS 1

Volleyball

NYSPHSAA Regional semifinals

At SUNY Ulster

Class AA: Minisink Valley 3, Ossining 1

Boys

Section 1 Championship

Suffern 3, Clarkstown North 2

Wednesday’s events

Volleyball

NYSPHSAA Regional semifinals

At SUNY Ulster

Class B: Westlake vs. Spackenkill (Section 9), 3 p.m.

Class A: Panas vs. Cornwall (Section 9), 5 p.m.

Thursday’s events

Boys volleyball

State regional semifinal at Clarkstown South, 7 p.m.

The lohud Sports Podcast.

In this edition of the lohud sports podcast, Josh breaks down the results of the Section 1 finals, talks about the paths to Syracuse and the Carrier Dome that the winners will face, takes a look at the upcoming CHSAA playoff games for Iona Prep, Stepinac, and Kennedy, and interviews New Rochelle head coach Lou DiRienzo.

Click below to listen. You can also subscribe to the lohud sports podcast on iTunes!

Somers celebrates a touchdown during its 42-6 victory over Yorktown in the Section 1 Class A championship at Mahopac High School on Nov. 5, 2016.

NYSPHSAA state tournament scouting reports —

Class A state quarterfinal

Somers (9-1) vs. Section 9’s Cornwall (8-2)

When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Where: Mahopac High School

State playoff history: Somers — 0-3 overall, 0-3 vs. Section 9. Cornwall — 7-11 overall, 6-5 vs. Section 1.

Keep an eye on: Somers is in search of its first state playoff win. Its last two losses (2012-13) both came against Cornwall, which has now won six straight Section 9 titles, including 12 since 2003. Somers should be oozing confidence after a dominant 42-6 victory over previously unbeaten Yorktown in the Section 1 final. Cornwall blanked Goshen 31-0, but the status of starting QB Kieran Kreider is uncertain. The junior sat out the Section 9 final after suffering an injury late in his team’s semifinal win the week before.

Up next: The winner will meet either Burnt Hills (Section 2) or Massena (Section 10) at 8 on Nov. 18 at Dietz Stadium in the Class A state semifinals.

CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP: Yorktown turns tables on Somers in championship rematch

Jack Minerva tosses the ball back to an official during Pleasantville’s 28-21 victory in the Class B championship game at Mahopac High School on Nov. 5, 2016.

Class B state quarterfinal

Pleasantville (10-0) vs. Section 9’s New Paltz (8-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Dietz Stadium, Kingston

State playoff history:Pleasantville — 0-1 overall, 0-1 vs. Section 9. New Paltz — 0-3 overall, 0-3 vs. Section 1.

Keep an eye on: Neither team has ever prevailed in a state playoff game. In fact, New Paltz has been outscored 104-22 in its three trips. All of them were Section 1 opponents — Harrison (2002), Rye (2007) and Croton-Harmon (2010). Pleasantville definitely has more firepower offensively than it had when it lost to Marlboro in the 2013 state quarterfinals, but it still hangs its hat on defense. The unit has five shutouts and has allowed just 69 points all season, including 56 of them in the two games against Westlake.

Up next: The winner will meet either Glens Falls (Section 2) or Peru (Section 7) at 3 on Nov. 19 at Dietz Stadium in the Class B state semifinals.

CLASS B CHAMPIONSHIP: Pleasantville makes the big play, celebrates the big win

Najee Smith looks for running room during Dobbs Ferry’s 21-14 defeat of Woodlands in the Class C championship game at Mahopac High School on Nov. 4, 2016.

Class C state quarterfinal

Dobbs Ferry (7-2) vs. Section 9’s Burke Catholic (7-3)

When: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Where: Mahopac High School

State playoff history:Dobbs Ferry — 19-5 overall, 8-1 vs. Section 9. Burke Catholic — 0-2 overall, 0-2 vs. Section 1.

Keep an eye on: Dobbs Ferry used to feast on Section 9 opponents, winning in its first eight trips to the state playoffs. That streak finally ended last year when the Eagles lost to Liberty in this very round. Burke Catholic ran away from Millbrook in the Section 9 final 31-12 last week. Dobbs beat Millbrook 42-12 back in September, but Burke presents a stiffer challenge. It starts with senior running back Garnett Nicolas, who has 1,205 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns.

Up next: The winner will meet either Greenwich (Section 2) or Ogdensburg (Section 10) at 11 on Nov. 19 at Dietz Stadium in the Class C state semifinals.

CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIP: Dobbs survives wild finish to repeat as Class C champ

Haldane’s Sam Giachinta tries to shed a tackler during his team’s 26-6 victory over Tuckahoe in the Class D championship game at Mahopac High School on Nov. 4, 2016.

Class D state quarterfinal

Haldane (2-6) vs. Section 9’s Roscoe/Livingston Manor/Downsville (2-7)

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.

Where: Dietz Stadium, Kingston

State playoff history:Haldane — 2-3 overall, 2-1 vs. Section 9. Roscoe — 0-1 overall, 0-1 vs. Section 1.

Keep an eye on: After winning its first two games, Roscoe/Livingston Manor/Downsville — a combined team that draws players from three different high schools — has lost its last seven. It earned the Section 9 state-playoff berth automatically. One of the opponents during this seven-game losing streak was Haldane, which won 28-14 back on Oct. 15. Roscoe/Livingston Manor/Downsville entered this round 6-3 last year when it lost 35-21 to Tuckahoe, so Haldane has a legitimate chance to advance.

Up next: The winner will meet either Cambridge (Section 2) or Ticonderoga (Section 7) at 4 on Nov. 18 at Dietz Stadium in the Class D state semifinals.

CLASS D CHAMPIONSHIP: Haldane gets momentum, then revenge vs. Tuckahoe

Antonio Giannico looks for running room during Stepinac’s season-opening win over visiting Cornwall on Sept. 9, 2016.

CHSFL semifinal scouting reports —

AAA semifinal

No. 2 Monsignor Farrell (7-2) vs. No. 3 Stepinac (7-2)

When: Saturday, 12 p.m.

Where: Monsignor Farrell High School, Staten Island

Last meeting: Monsignor Farrell d. Stepinac 23-20 on Oct. 15

Keep an eye on: These teams played a classic during the regular season, trading scores in the final minutes. Farrell pulled in front 20-13 on a field goal by Paul Inzerillo with 2:39 remaining, but Stepinac answered when Michael Nicosia hit Sean Jasper-Cousins on a 35-yard touchdown with 54 seconds remaining. Farrell struck back, connecting on a 60-yard pass to set up the winning 37-yard field goal with 7 seconds remaining. That heartbreak resulted in the two-time defending champion Crusaders being sent on the road for the semifinals, but it also affords them an opportunity at revenge.

Up next: The winner will meet either No. 1 St. Anthony’s or No. 4 Cardinal Hayes for the AAA championship. The game will likely be played on Nov. 19 at a time and site to be determined.

Iona Prep quarterback Mike Apostolopoulos throws a pass during his team’s 41-0 victory over Fordham Prep on Nov. 6, 2016.

AA semifinal

No. 3 Iona Prep (6-3) vs. No. 7 Xavier (3-5)

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.

Where: Iona Prep, New Rochelle

Last meeting: Iona Prep d. Xavier 28-22 on Oct. 22

Keep an eye on: Xavier put a scare into Iona Prep last month by controlling the clock and keeping the Gaels’ offense off the field. Xavier rushed the the ball 41 times for 248 yards and it following a similar game plan in last week’s 28-27 upset of favorite Christ the King. Expect Iona Prep to push the tempo with the hopes of creating more possessions in the rematch.

Up next: The winner will meet either No. 1 Holy Trinity or No. 5 St. John the Baptist for the AA championship. The game will likely be played on Nov. 19 at a time and site to be determined.

SEMIFINALS: Iona Prep routs Fordham as playoff path clears

A semifinal

No. 1 Moore Catholic (6-2) vs. No. 4 Kennedy (4-3)

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Moore Catholic, Staten Island

Last meeting: Moore Catholic d. Kennedy 30-21 on Sept. 10.

Keep an eye on: Kennedy lost to Moore Catholic in its season opener, but the Gaels are a different team. They have won four of six and have been the highest scoring team in the A division under first-year coach Dominick Tassone, the former offensive coordinator at Holy Trinity. Quarterback David Keogh has led the Gaels with 1,581 passing yards and 14 touchdowns.

Up next: The winner will meet either No. 2 Xaverian or No. 3 Cardinal Spellman for the A championship. The game will likely be played on Nov. 19 at a time and site to be determined.

Twitter:  @lohudinsider

Westlake celebrates after beating Spackenkill in a Class B state regional volleyball match. Nov. 9, 2016.

STONE RIDGE – Eleven fold-up chairs were lined along the SUNY Ulster volleyball court prior to the Class B state regional semifinal Wednesday, each one of them with a Westlake jersey draped over the back and a small piece of paper rested on the seat that began with the identical 10-word statement: “You didn’t come this far to only come this far.”

It was the introduction of a personal message from Westlake head coach Carmen Bates, who could not attend the match due to a family emergency, to her players. Bates, who usually has a few words of encouragement for the team before each match, emailed the message to assistant coach Gina Perino, who printed them out.

“We wanted to make it so that it wasn’t that much different without her,” Perino, who was wearing Bates’ lucky necklace Wednesday, said after a 25-19, 17-25, 25-13, 25-16 win over Spackenkill. “Carmen and I have a lot of superstitions, so it’s nice that I can carry some of hers with me.”

CHAMPS: Westlake edges top-seeded Lourdes for Class B crown

COLUMN: Court jesters keep team morale high

COLUMN: Superstitions are unorthodox, but effective

Westlake (17-4) advanced to the state regional final Saturday at Corning-Painted Post High School at 2 p.m. against defending state champions Owego Free Academy. That match will determine which team will head to the state semifinals next weekend at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Westlake players called Bates immediately after the match, and relayed that their coach was crying on the other end.

“I think it brought us together to do it for her,” Westlake senior libero Kelli Kinlen said of Bates’ absence. “We knew how much she would’ve wanted us to win, and how much she’s not ready for us to end the season with her.”

Westlake assistant volleyball coach Gina Perino talks to the team during a Class B state regional semifinal against Spackenkill at SUNY Ulster. Nov. 9, 2016.

Kinlen, who shares libero duties with fellow senior Alina Acevedo by switching mid-match, said she had her hands full with Spackenkill standout Nini Shur. Kinlen said she “had a hard time reading” Shur early on, but was able to make an adjustment.

“I watched the set,” she said. “If the set went really far and close to the antenna, I knew she was going to hit line, and if it was a few inches in, I knew she was going to hit (cross-court).”

Perino said Bates is expected to be back on the sidelines Saturday, but she will likely return the necklace before the match. The pendant on the necklace is engraved with an inscription that sums up the Wildcats’ season perfectly: “Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.”

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

Panas volleyball head coach Joe Felipe talks to his team during a Class A state regional semifinal win over Cornwall at SUNY Ulster. Nov. 9, 2016.

STONE RIDGE – Panas volleyball matches bear a resemblance to a Mike Tyson boxing match during his prime: dominant, meticulous, and often over so quickly that the price of admission hardly seems worth it.

Seeing as how the majority of Panas fans who made the trip from Cortlandt Manor to SUNY Ulster on Wednesday were direct relatives of the players, there were no complaints in the stands following a swift 25-16, 25-16, 25-20 victory in the Class A state regional semifinals.

Panas representatives said that Wednesday’s match was a perfect example of how it can fall into a dangerous habit of coasting during play. The Panthers had a rare off night at the serve, and fell into an early hole in the third set after giving Cornwall a majority of its points off various errors.

“We need to make sure that we really push ourselves because we underestimate teams sometimes, and we need to make sure we never do that,” Panas junior Demi Spanos said. “I think when we’re really loud and when we have a big crowd, that pushes us to finish the game fast and make it fun.”

COLUMN: Court jesters keep team morale high

VOLLEYBALL: Panas dominates in Class A final, repeats as champs

VOLLEYBALL: Panas puts family first before defending tournament title

Spanos had a remarkable .600 hitting percentage Wednesday, giving Panthers head coach Joe Felipe a “hot hand” to feed throughout the match. Panas is buoyed by junior Yvette Burcescu, but performances like Spanos’ against Cornwall show just how lethal the Panthers can be on the attack.

“Demi has been stepping up all year,” Felipe said. “For us, we can really ride the hot hand and it’s not between two hitters, it’s between five hitters.”

Burcescu, Spanos, sophomore standout Jenn Braun, junior all-section returnee Lauren Feeley, and senior Melissa Lussier make up arguably the most balanced attack in the state. Felipe gave special praise to Lussier, noting that her blocking ability and on-court leadership is invaluable when she plays out of the middle.

The Panthers (18-0) will take on Section 4 champion Vestal in the regional final Sunday at SUNY Oneonta at 2:30 p.m. Felipe had a slight grin on his face when asked about the Golden Bears.

“I know they won their section, I know that the last time I played Vestal I went down 2-0 and had to win three in a row to get to the state final four,” he said, recalling the 2012 regional final.

The last rendezvous may have gone the distance, but Panas will undoubtedly be looking for a first-round knockout this time around.

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

Mamaroneck hockey coach Mike Chiapparelli runs his team through sprints during a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

LARCHMONT – Nobody was in a hurry to leave the rink after Mamaroneck suffered a humbling loss to Pelham last January. The mood was heading south in a hurry before a frank locker room conversation perhaps saved a promising season.

In a matter of weeks, the Tigers were celebrating a state championship.

There is plenty of talent coming back for an encore, so the biggest questions that have to be answered in the weeks ahead revolve around leadership. It’s probably a good thing Will Payne, Tommy Spero, Matt DiCicco, James Torre and Michael Carducci were paying attention last winter.

Now the committee of captains needs to find a voice.

“We learned that it was OK to have fun in hockey and it was OK to lose,” Spero said on Wednesday after practice. “We won a lot of games last year and mostly it came from chemistry. We had a lot of team dinners, we hung out and watched movies, we had a good laugh, we had a good time.”

They learned from the likes of Alex Ewald, Will Kirk and Jason Bienstock.

“All of the guys this season have been on this team for two and three years, so they got to be around the captains from the past two seasons,” Mamaroneck coach Mike Chiapparelli said.

CAMP STOP: Pelham gets right to work on another Section 1 hockey title

CAMP STOP: Suffern has some holes to fill in the lineup

The most important message is part of each preseason conversation.

“Every team wants to say they knocked off the defending state champions,” Payne said. “We have to give every game our all no matter who we’re playing against.”

The banner is on hand, but it’s unclear when it will be hung.

Spero is the heart-and-soul goalie who made one goal stand up in the state final against West Genesee. He’s got help, too. Andrew Garguilo is expected to get time in net, as well. Nick Campbell is the lone returning defenseman so there will be opportunities for a string of upperclassmen who got valuable minutes last season on the varsity B team.

Up front, the Tigers are coming back with DiCicco, Payne, Carducci, Torre, Connor LeBlanc, Harrison Schreiber.

“That’s six kids who got a lot of ice time for us last year,” Chiapparelli said. “That’s a good start and then we have two lines up from the B team that are talented, too. So we’re back with a lot of depth with probably 17 or 18 seniors.”

Mamaroneck opens the season Nov. 26 against Shaker/Colonie in Albany. The first home game is Dec. 2 against Rye.

“We lost a lot of seniors from last year, so we’re going to need kids to step up this year, work hard,” said Payne, who may see time at defenseman if needed. “We’ll have a huge target on our backs. … I don’t think we’re taking any steps back. The kids who weren’t on the team last year are hungrier to win another state championship. They all want a ring before they go out.”

Twitter: @hoopsmbd

Mamaroneck hockey coach Mike Chiapparelli after a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

Mamaroneck hockey coach Mike Chiapparelli runs his team through sprints during a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

Mamaroneck hockey goalie Tommy Spero during a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

Mamaroneck hockey captains Matt DiCicco, left, Will Payne, James Torre, Tommy Spero and Michael Carducci after a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

Mamaroneck hockey goalie Tommy Spero during a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

Mamaroneck hockey coach Mike Chiapparelli after a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

Mamaroneck hockey captains Matt DiCicco, left, Will Payne, James Torre, Tommy Spero and Michael Carducci after a practice at Hommocks ice rink Nov. 9, 2016.

HIGH SCHOOL

LH Logo: Varsity Scores And Schedules

Wednesday’s results

Boys soccer

CHSAA semifinals

Cardinal Spellman 2, Kennedy 1 (OT)

Volleyball

NYSPHSAA Regional semifinals

At SUNY Ulster

Class B: Westlake 3, Spackenkill 1

Class A: Panas 3, Cornwall 0

FAA semifinals

Convent of the Sacred Heart 3, Holy Child 0

Thursday’s events

Boys volleyball

State regional semifinal at Clarkstown South, 7 p.m.

Friday’s events

No events scheduled

Pleasantville’s Declan McDermott beats three Westlake defenders into the end zone for a touchdown during the Section 1 Class B football championship Mahopac High School Nov. 5, 2016. Pleasantville defeated Westlake 28-21.

PLEASANTVILLE – At first, Tony Becerra wasn’t sure what to expect from Declan McDermott. Here’s what he knew: The lacrosse star was easily one of Pleasantville’s best athletes. What he couldn’t foresee was how that would translate to the football field.

McDermott, a junior, had last played football at the modified level. But, during summer workouts and 7-on-7 tournaments, his play turned Becerra’s vision from cloudy to clear.

“He was just a natural. He was so coachable. He got it,” the Pleasantville coach said. “What surprised me more than anything was how tough he was. He was tough and nothing fazed him. He had that mental makeup of a football player.”

Despite his lack of experience, McDermott has proven to be a quick study. He spent the last two years running cross-country with older brother Aidan, but he has quickly become an integral player on Pleasantville’s Section 1 championship football team.

McDermott scored twice in last week’s 28-21 win over Westlake in the Class B final, including what proved to be the winning touchdown.

“The gravity of the situation won’t faze him,” Becerra said. “I give him something or tell him to do this and he’s just like, ‘I got you.’ “

That was essentially the answer McDermott gave to older brother Aidan when Aidan asked him to join the cross-country team two years ago. The elder McDermott said the team needed an influx of runners if it hoped to repeat as sectional champion. Declan, who played football throughout elementary and middle school, agreed to run, knowing it would be the only chance he and Aidan, a golfer, had to be members of the same roster.

They helped the Panthers win a pair of Class C championships and qualified for the state meet both years.

“I don’t regret one day of it,” Declan said. “It was an awesome experience.”

Although Aidan was already one of the team’s top runners, Declan also became a varsity starter, running in Pleasantville’s top five both years. They even won the county title when he was a freshman, running past much larger schools in the process.

“He was definitely a huge contributor,” Aidan said by phone from Lafayette, where he is a freshman on the golf team. “Without him, it would’ve been tough for both teams to win section titles.”

With his brother’s impending graduation and at the urging of friends who are football players, Declan rejoined the football program last winter. He attended offseason workouts and dedicated himself to help the Panthers chase their first Section 1 title in three years.

Junior Declan McDermott at football practice Nov. 7, 2016 in Pleasantville. McDermott scored two touchdowns in the Class B championship. The lacrosse star grew up playing football, but didn’t join the varsity until this year. He spent the last couple years running cross country because he wanted to be on the team with his older brother.

This summer, McDermott participated in camps and other workouts and trained with quarterback Jack Howe when he didn’t. Now, with McDermott starting at wide receiver, blasting kickoffs and returning kicks, Pleasantville sits at 10-0.

“The first couple games it was hard to get used to the speed of the game,” said McDermott, whose team plays New Paltz at 7 p.m. Friday at Dietz Stadium in the state quarterfinals. “The coaches and players helped me hop in and fit right in.”

McDermott’s athleticism certainly hasn’t hurt. Before playing a down of football, he had already been a key force behind Pleasantville’s back-to-back Class C lacrosse champions and has committed to play at Georgetown. But McDermott also ran for the school’s sectional-winning winter track team as an eighth-grader, meaning he already has six Section 1 titles just one season into his junior year.

His brother watched Declan fuel last week’s win over Westlake and felt more confirmation than satisfaction.

“I had a feeling he would win,” Aidan said. “He always does.”

Declan McDermott seems to make sure of it. He may not always know what sport he will play next, but that’s not the point.

“It’s been a spontaneous high school experience for me,” he said. “I’m kind of just going with the flow. I don’t think about it. I just want to have fun in high school. That’s what I’m going for.”

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Junior Declan McDermott at football practice Nov. 7, 2016 in Pleasantville. McDermott scored two touchdowns in the Class B championship. The lacrosse star grew up playing football, but didn’t join the varsity until this year. He spent the last couple years running cross country because he wanted to be on the team with his older brother.

Junior Declan McDermott at football practice Nov. 7, 2016 in Pleasantville. McDermott scored two touchdowns in the Class B championship. The lacrosse star grew up playing football, but didn’t join the varsity until this year. He spent the last couple years running cross country because he wanted to be on the team with his older brother.

Junior Declan McDermott at football practice Nov. 7, 2016 in Pleasantville. McDermott scored two touchdowns in the Class B championship. The lacrosse star grew up playing football, but didn’t join the varsity until this year. He spent the last couple years running cross country because he wanted to be on the team with his older brother.

Junior Declan McDermott at football practice Nov. 7, 2016 in Pleasantville. McDermott scored two touchdowns in the Class B championship. The lacrosse star grew up playing football, but didn’t join the varsity until this year. He spent the last couple years running cross country because he wanted to be on the team with his older brother.

We’re now down to four Section 1 volleyball teams left in the state tournament — Panas, Westlake, Pawling, and Tuckahoe. Since we have a couple of days before the state regional finals this weekend, I wanted to recognize all of this year’s league champions in one post.

I will have the individual all-section and all-conference selections up in the afternoon. In the meantime, congratulations to all of this year’s league champions:

2016 lohud volleyball league champions

Nyack celebrates after defeating Tappan Zee in three straight games during a varsity volleyball match at Nyack High School Oct. 6, 2016. Nyack defeated Tappan Zee 25-12; 25-19; 25-22.

League 1-A: John Jay-East Fishkill
League 1-B: Ursuline
League 1-C: North Rockland
League 1-D (tie): Ossining and Yorktown

League 2-A: Yonkers
League 2-B: Nyack
League 2-C: Panas
League 2-D: Rye
League 2-E (tie): Lourdes and Hen Hud

League 3-A: Westlake
League 3-B (tie): Blind Brook and Keio
League 3-C: Dobbs Ferry
League 3-D: Hamilton and Tuckahoe
League 3-E: Pawling

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

Nyack celebrates a point during a varsity volleyball match against Tappan Zee at Nyack High School Oct. 6, 2016. Nyack defeated Tappan Zee in three straight games, 25-12; 25-19; 25-22.

Nyack celebrates a point during a varsity volleyball match against Tappan Zee at Nyack High School Oct. 6, 2016. Nyack defeated Tappan Zee in three straight games, 25-12; 25-19; 25-22.

Section 1 coaches released their annual all-section and all-conference selections late Wednesday night, recognizing the best players in the area. Panas led all programs with seven all-section players, one more than last year’s total. These selections are made by the coaches of Section 1 and have nothing to do with The Journal News/lohud.

Panas takes on Yorktown at the Vikings Volleyball Tournament at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack on Saturday, September 24, 2016.

(Disclaimer: My annual all-star teams, which include player of the year, coach of the year, plus first- and second-teams, will likely be announced in late November or early December. While I may ask some coaches for their input, I will ultimately have the final say in those picks.)

The all-section and all-conference are all listed below in alphabetical order by name, as opposed to team last year. I’ve also included the all-conference honorable mentions. All-section picks are included in all-conference, so I’ve omitted those repetitions to save some space.

All-section selections

Brenna Abplanalp, Nyack, Sr.

Kiara Adams, Peekskill, So.

Julianna Bottarini, Panas, Sr.

Jenn Braun, Panas, So.

Yvette Burcescu, Panas, Jr.

Caleigh Carr, Westlake, Sr.

Danielle Chiodi, Eastchester, Sr.

Christina Chu, Ardsley, Jr.

​Milena Ciaccia, Ursuline, Sr.

Jess D’Auria, Lourdes, Sr.

Rachel Darius, New Rochelle, Jr.

Jaime Donnelly, Rye, Sr.

Lizzie Evanko, Horace Greeley, So.

Lauren Feeley, Panas, Jr.

Toni Fiore, Yorktown, Sr.

Nicole Frascati, Yonkers, Sr.

Ceara Giametta, Lourdes, Sr.

Molly Haag, Ossining, Sr.

Annemarie Horn, Scarsdale, Jr.

Jade Iadarola, Rye, Jr.

Skylar Kellam, John Jay-East Fishkill, Sr.

Charlotte Krause, Pelham, Jr.

Laura Kuhlmann, Pawling, So.

Nadia Lau, Ossining, Jr.

Georgia Lee, Hen Hud, Jr.

Juliet Lodes, White Plains, Sr.

Kirstin Loh, Hen Hud, Sr.

Clara Lombardo, Pawling, Sr.

Melissa Lussier, Panas, Sr.

Gabriella Maggi, Dobbs Ferry, Sr.

Kelly Martin, Westlake, Sr.

Hailey McCloskey, Tappan Zee, Sr.

Katie McLoughlin, Ursuline, Sr.

Madison Monahan, North Rockland, Jr.

Sam Morillo, Valhalla, Jr.

Maya Owens, Nyack, Jr.

Sabrina Patriciello, Panas, Jr.

Laine Peterson, Westlake, Jr.

Grace Rappleyea, Lourdes, Sr.

Sydney Roell, Westlake, So.

Anjalie Sebastian, Clarkstown North, Sr.

Michelle Seger, Yorktown, Sr.

Sydney Shotkoski, Pelham, Jr.

Jaclyn Smith, Pawling, Sr.

Demi Spanos, Panas, Jr.

Zoe Staats, Hen Hud, Jr.

Charlotte Stivala, Ursuline, Sr.

Brooke Vahos, Haldane, Sr.

Mychael Vernon, Ossining, Fr.

Laura Zazyczny, Nanuet, Sr.

All-conference selections

Kristen Conway, Suffern, Jr.

Kiki Cruz, Putnam Valley, Sr.

Nikolina Cuk, Blind Brook, Sr.

Lauren Demitrovic, Dobbs Ferry, Fr.

Kayla Diaz, Nanuet, So.

Lauren Donohue, John Jay, Sr.

Macey Drezek, Yorktown, Jr.

Hailie Festa, Tappan Zee, Sr.

Nina Gill, Hamilton, Sr.

Takako Hasegawa, Keio, Sr.

Taylor Kammerman, Panas, Sr.

Pamela Loh, Hen Hud, Fr.

Marie McNerney, Ardsley, Sr.

Samantha Nadasi, Irvington, Sr.

Mia Persico, Briarcliff, So.

Lauren Schetter, Beacon, Sr.

Carah Vitkus, Mahopac, So.

Selma Vulic, New Rochelle, Jr.

Shannon Ward, Pawling, Sr.

Melissa Yanez, Harrison, Sr.

All-conference honorable mentions

Manami Akita, Keio

Nicole Andreotti, Nyack

Alexandra Antony, Blind Brook

Essence Boyd, Peekskill

Sophia Carnabucci, Haldane

Devin Clifford, Lakeland

Kelly Degnan, Irvington

Selena Delgado, Yonkers

Olivia Doorley, Pearl River

Olivia Johnson, Pelham

Kelli Kinlen, Westlake

Samantha Kops, Arlington

Maggie Linseth, John Jay-East Fishkill

Michelle Macri, Ardsley

Amanda Marji, Yonkers

Camryn McCarthy, Dobbs Ferry

Maura McGlynn, Ursuline

Arielle Putter, Fox Lane

Clare O’Hara, Scarsdale

Meghan O’Leary, Putnam Valley

Ariel Olavarria, North Rockland

Kelsey Quain, Ossining

Annie Raymond, Tuckahoe

Aida Rossi, Valhalla

Caroline Scanlan, Fox Lane

Vivian Turriago, John Jay

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud

Four local boys soccer teams will have the opportunity to win a state championship this weekend, which is the first time that’s happened since 2008. All four will be heading to Middletown High, the site of the state semifinals and finals, which will be played on Saturday and Sunday.

To get you set for the action, and what to expect from the opponents of the Section 1 champions, here are previews for each game:

Class AA state semifinals

New Rochelle (12-4-4) vs. Section 8’s Calhoun (13-2)​

When: Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Faller Field Turf at Middletown HS

Key players: NR— Harwan Alzuabidi, Sr., F; Omar Espinoza, Jr., MF; Omar Tejeda, Sr., MF; Felipe Tobon, Jr., D; Cristian Valencia, Sr., D. Cal — David Futterman, Sr., GK; Mike Harten, Sr., MF: Alex Sipos, So., MF; Eric Stewart, Sr., F; Joe Thomann, Sr., MF.

Outlook: Who would have thought we’d still be talking about the Huguenots well into November? New Ro surprised everyone by emerging from a deep Class AA field in Section 1 and continued its run of good fortune by outlasting Section 9 champ Newburgh Free Academy in overtime to win a regional title. The job that coach Jarohan Garcia has done since arriving prior to the 2014 season has been remarkable. He’s been able to harness the enviable soccer talent in New Ro, but more important, he brought the discipline and structure that the program may have been lacking a few short years ago. The Huguenots have responded in a meaningful way, and now here they are. Calhoun reaching this point isn’t quite as surprising, but the Colts also had to overcome some adversity. They were matched up against perennial state power Brentwood in the Long Island championship and pulled off the upset with a 3-2 overtime win. It was their third OT win of the postseason, which New Rochelle can relate to. The Huguenots advanced on penalty kicks twice during the Section 1 tournament. Stewart and Sipos are the leading scorers for Calhoun, and they both made their presences felt in the win over Brentwood. It will be more difficult for the Colts to focus on one or two players for New Ro because someone different seems to step up in each game, although Alzuabidi is probably the most dangerous player up top. The Huguenots are expected to stick to their goalkeeper rotation, which means that senior Danny Ayala will get the start here, and he’s been outstanding throughout the playoffs. They’ve allowed only two goals in six playoff games, but Calhoun could be the toughest test yet for the defense. Something has to give.

Coach speak: “We’ve gotten to where we are because we play the way that we play. The moment that we start to deviate from that is when we have problems. Goals are byproducts of everything else that we do. If we do the things that we do well, we’ll be playing on Sunday.” — New Rochelle coach Jarohan Garcia

Up next: The winner will play either Bethlehem Central (Section 2) or Fairport (Section 5) for the state championship at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Middletown High.

Class A state semifinal

Somers (18-2-2) vs. Section 11’s Amityville (14-2-3)​

When: Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Faller Field Turf at Middletown HS

Key players: Som — Luke Bugoni, Sr., D; Evan Keiltyka, Sr., MF/D; Kenny Kurtz, Sr., GK; Jack Maher, Sr., MF; Jon Riina, So., F. Av — Rolman Guardado, So., MF; Tim Hermann, Sr., GK; Oscar Hernandez, Jr., MF; Marlon Martinez, Jr., F; Richard Ordonez, Jr., F.

Outlook: If Amityville sounds familiar to you, it’s because it should. It was the Warriors who ended Pearl River’s run last season with a 2-0 win in the state championship game. Now, the defending state champs are standing between the Tuskers and a shot at a state title of their own. Somers enters this game feeling like it has a legitimate chance because it’s been playing its best soccer in recent weeks. The Tuskers breezed through region play, winning both the semis and final by fairly comfortable margins. They’ve always felt confident about their defense and goalie, which have pitched shutouts in four of six playoff games thus far, and the offense really seems to have come around lately. Maher is the leader and has come up with some clutch goals, but there is a wealth of young talent around him that doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the moment. Amityville had a more difficult path in regional play, as the Warriors squeaked by previously unbeaten Glen Cove on penalty kicks in their previous game. They clearly have a knack for stepping up when it matters most. In terms of their biggest scoring threats, Martinez and Ordonez usually rotate at forward and should be a handful for Somers’ D. The Tuskers also like to move their pieces around, so don’t be surprised to see a few guys try their luck up top. I know that having Kurtz gives Somers coach Brian Lanzetta a lot of confidence, as the University of Mary Washington-bound senior has emerged as one of the best keepers in the state. He’ll face perhaps his biggest challenge on Saturday, and it should make for one heck of a game.

Coach speak: “I will say this: I have a very good group of close buddies that I grew up with who played college soccer with their head coach. I know they’re going to be well-coached. They have the experience and history, so they’re going to be prepared. One of the things that I think might help us is being overlooked and being an underdog. It’s one game and anything can happen. That’s how we’ve felt all season.” — Somers coach Brian Lanzetta

Up next: The winner will play either New Hartford (Section 3) or Grand Island (Section 6) for the state championship at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at Middletown High.

Class B state semifinal

Hastings (19-1-1) vs. Section 2’s Ichabod Crane (18-2-1)

When: Saturday at 1:45 p.m.

Where: Faller Field Grass at Middletown HS

Key players: Hs — Alex Bourgeois, Jr., D; Nate Constantine, Sr., D; Oscar Pereira, Sr., D; Andrea Russo, Sr., MF; Jackson Silverstein, Sr., F. IC — George Cox, Sr., MF; Giovanni Gomez, So., F; Parker Groat, Jr., F; Nick Johnston, Jr., F; Peter Volkman, Sr., GK.

Outlook: I’ve been asked several times in the last couple of weeks about which local team has the best chance to win it all, and if I had to pick, I would probably lean toward the Yellow Jackets. They just moved to No. 1 in the state rankings and they’ve been here before. In fact, when Hastings got knocked out by East Aurora in last year’s state semis, it was clear to everyone who was watching that the Jackets got the better of possession and had more scoring opportunities. That goes to show that they weren’t far off last season, and this year’s team has been enhanced by the addition of a few very talented players who returned from the U.S. Academy system. In terms of pure skill, I would argue that Hastings is better-equipped to win it all this time around, but surely no one will hand the title over. Ichabod Crane comes in playing very well, having handled Section 10 champ Ogdensburg Free Academy with a 3-0 win in the regional final. Cox is their senior leader, but the Riders also have a lot of young talent that has been contributing during their run. Gomez, in particular, has been setting up his teammates with some key assists. Silverstein has been the hero for the Jackets, scoring some big goals despite sustaining a deep cut in his eyebrow in the regional semis. But the depth for Hastings is notable, and there are many others who have proven that they can get the job done. The Jackets played perhaps their best game of the season in their 4-0 regional final win over Section 8 champ Carle Place, and they’re hoping that momentum will carry into this weekend.

Coach speak: “We’ve played teams from northwestern New York, and there are some big boys out there. They look solid, they look very tough, so for us, it’s play your short game and play quick. We want to work it out of our backfield and try to frustrate teams.” — Hastings coach Fred Sandhop

Up next: The winner will play either Westhill (Section 3) or Livonia (Section 5) for the state championship at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Middletown High.

Class C state semifinal

North Salem (14-5) vs. Section 10’s Potsdam (10-8)​

When: Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Where: Faller Field Grass at Middletown HS

Key players: NS — Michael Bossi, So., MF; Michael Dutt, Sr., MF; Jake Leicht, Sr., D; John Martabano, Sr., MF; Mike Selzer, Sr., F. Pd — Carter Brown, Jr., GK; Dan Caamano, Jr., F; Jake Keleher, Sr., F; David Lucht, Jr., D; Nolan Towne, So., MF.

Outlook: Some might say that the Tigers are on an unexpected journey to Middletown, but it’s probably even more shocking for Potsdam. The Sandstoners pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year in the regional final, beating previously unbeaten Maple Hill — a team that some saw as the favorite to win the whole thing — with a 2-1 overtime win. Had they lost that game, they would have finished at .500. Now, they have a chance to win a state title, which should remind us that anything can happen at this time of year. With all of that being said, I should note that this will be Potsdam’s second appearance on this stage in the last four years, and it did play a schedule of mostly Class A and B schools. By no means will this be an easy opponent for North Salem. The Sandstoners’ biggest weapons have been Keleher (16 goals) and Caamano (14 goals), who are responsible for 30 of the team’s 33 goals this season. It was Keleher who scored the winner late in the game against Maple Hill. The Tigers’ defense has been strong throughout the playoffs, and you can expect their attention to be focused on those two for most of the game. North Salem tends to spread it out more, but Dutt and Selzer have been the go-to guys of late. They’re probably being viewed as a slight favorite after a 2-1 overtime win over Section 9 champ S.S. Seward in the regional final, but Potsdam has proven it can hang with just about any school in Class C.

Coach speak: “I don’t think you get this far without having some kind of asset. There’s a lot of ways to be strong in soccer — sometimes you’re fast, sometimes you’re skilled, sometimes you’re just really physical and strong. I’m not sure what they’re bringing to the game, but we’ll find out.” — North Salem coach Ron Hendrie

Up next: The winner will play either Lansing (Section 4) or World of Inquiry (Section 5) for the state championship at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday at Middletown High.

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Somers defeated Vestal in the boys soccer regional semifinal at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak Nov. 2, 2016

New Rochelle’s (14) kicks the ball away from an Ithaca defender during the boys soccer regional semifinal at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak Nov. 2, 2016.

North Salem’s Mark Ribaudo, left, attempts to control the ball as John Guerra of Seward pressures him during the Class C Regional Game at Byram Hills High School on Nov. 5, 2016.

Hastings defeated Rye Neck 1-0 in the boys soccer Section 1 Class B championship game at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak High School Oct. 29, 2016.

North Salem’s Mark Ribaudo, left, attempts to control the ball as John Guerra of Seward pressures him during the Class C Regional Game at Byram Hills High School on Nov. 5, 2016.

New Rochelle’s (14) kicks the ball away from an Ithaca defender during the boys soccer regional semifinal at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak Nov. 2, 2016.

Somers defeated Vestal in the boys soccer regional semifinal at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak Nov. 2, 2016

Hastings defeated Rye Neck 1-0 in the boys soccer Section 1 Class B championship game at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak High School Oct. 29, 2016.

Liam Frawley has been home since Sept. 1. But countless hours of speech, occupational and physical therapies lie ahead of the Tappan Zee athletic director, who suffered a burst brain aneurism last January and still can’t walk or speak.

The 48-year-old father of a 14- and 16-year-old requires costly home aide services and his wife of 22 years, Janine, wants to get a wheelchair-accessible van to take him to his three-hour, twice-weekly therapy sessions at Helen Hayes Hospital and to also just get him out of their New City house more often.

She’d also like to hire a speech therapist to work with him at home.

Those things will be costly, which is one reason for Saturday’s “Guys Night Out” casino fundraiser.

The night, which is billed as a men’s event, will include blackjack, craps, roulette, a cigar bar and a showing of the first ever UFC fight at Madison Square Garden. It will run 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus on Bailey Street in Blauvelt.

This will be the third benefit for Frawley, who is paralyzed on his right side.

“It’s nice of people to think of him. It’s nice to see that they care,” Janine said.

Saturday’s fundraiser is being put on by Bailey’s Smokehouse in Blauvelt.

Tickets are $125 in advance and $150 at the door, although pre-purchase is requested.

That fee covers food and drink and 200 game chips.

Bailey’s manager Paul Butler said the goal is to draw 150-200 people to raise thousands for Frawley’s needs.

As of Wednesday, he said 80-100 tickets had been sold.

A lot of what is raised is expected to come from extra chip sales with, for instance, $10 buying 100 chips and $50 buying 800.

At the end of the evening, chips will be traded in for raffle tickets for items as small as gift baskets and coolers, to an overnight Holiday Inn stay, to sports memorabilia, to golf bags and clubs, to a riding lawnmower.

“It will be a great evening and well worth it,” Butler promised.

The Smokehouse got involved in part because many of its customers are from the Tappan Zee community. And what Butler has heard about Frawley has been overwhelmingly positive.

“He’s kind of shifted the entire athletic department into the 21st century,” Butler said.

In fact, Frawley won multiple awards – some national – for his efforts. Three years ago, Coach & Athletic Director Magazine chose Tappan Zee as the winner of its national Interscholastic Athletic Program of Excellence Award, saying it provided the best student-athlete experience.

Frawley won three education awards for the 2015-16 school year. One was the 2016 National Federation of State High School Associations’ Educator of the Year award.

“He’s definitely, definitely, definitely making progress but there’s still a long way to go,” friend and former Pearl River athletic director Tom Doherty said.

In part, Doherty noted Frawley is happy to hear positive news about his district, reacting with a thumbs up, since he’s cannot speak.

He has also gained weight since coming home, Janine Frawley said, laughing while crediting her good cooking.

She’s anxious for him to start speaking and believes speech therapy at home will hasten that process.

“Outpatient (insurance) only pays two days of therapy,” she said. “It’s not really that much for what he needs for the extent everything happened to him. He needs to start talking.”

She can’t leave her husband alone. He has a great aide who, wanting him to get better, does a lot of extra work with him, she said. But because of finances, aide coverage is limited to six mornings a week.

Frawley works out at home with an electronic pedal device that keeps both his legs moving, even though his right leg is frozen in a bent position at this point, she said.

He has one leg brace and was just fitted for another to stretch muscles that are painfully tight.

A van would allow her to take Liam for massages but also just to give him a change of scenery.

“I can’t wait to take my man out for a ride,” she said.

“It’s a lot,” she said of her husband’s condition, adding, “I do realize it’s going to be more long-term than I thought.”

But Janine, who began dating Liam when they were Manhattan College undergrads, isn’t going anywhere.

“We’re together 29 years,” she said. “I’m in for the long haul.”

Tickets for Saturday’s event may be purchased by contacting Tom Doherty at tommydoherty@optonline.net or calling him at 551-427-2951, or at Bailey’s Smokehouse, which is at 136 East Erie St. in Blauvelt; phone: 845-398-1454.

Those who cannot attend but would still like to make a donation may do so at www.gofundme.com/frawleystrong.

Any donation checks or checks for the casino night should be made payable to Frawley Strong.

Twitter: @HaggertyNancy

Tappan Zee athletic director Liam Frawley at work in 2014.

Tappan Zee athletic director Liam Frawley at work in 2014

Tappan Zee athletic director Liam Frawley at work in 2014

Tappan Zee athletic director Liam Frawley at work in 2014.