BOYS ICE HOCKEY: WILLIAMSVILLE TIMES TWOThe last Sunday in February has become a big day around the state for hockey, with several sections anchoring their finals there.
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Williamsville East (East Amherst) earned the first Section VI championship in its 21-year history and advanced to the NYSPHSAA Division II quarterfinals with a 2-1 triumph over Kenmore East at HSBC Arena. The Flames, who won a 2004 state crown through a different qualification path, got 28 saves from freshman Tucker Weppner. Mike Sarcinelli tied the game 19 seconds into the second period, and Matt Territo's wrist shot from the right circle with 12:04 left in the second proved to be the winner.
* In Division I, state No. 1
Williamsville North dominated Frontier 6-0 with an overwhelming 61-13 margin in shots on goal. Parker Gahagen recorded his 17th career shutout as the Spartans extended their postseason shutout string to three. Scott Sims scored twice in the victory.
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Pelham Memorial sophomore goalie Josh Borofsky made 14 saves in a 1-0 win vs. Rye in the Section I Division II championship game at West Point. Will Donovan tipped in a pass from fellow freshman Andrew Schauer 1:59 into the third period to account for the only goal.
* In Division I,
Suffern repeated with a 4-1 victory over White Plains. Willie Sanchez and Ian Adler scored two minutes apart in the second period to break open a scoreless game, and Jake Jaeger tallied on the power play for a three-goal cushion entering the final 15 minutes.
* Justin Simonelli scored 14 seconds after teammate Ian Cumming stopped a penalty shot, tying the game and helping spark
Greece Odyssey/Greece Athena (Rochester) past Fairport 4-2 for the Section V Division I championship. With Fairport ahead 2-1, Cumming stopped Connor Boyd's penalty shot late in the second period. Simonelli followed with the tying goal, Anthony Crawford scored what proved to be the winning goal with 1:26 to go in regulation, and Tyler Grimshaw tacked on an empty-netter with 1:07 left.
* In Division II,
Webster Thomas (Webster) senior forward Mark Vaccarelli scored with 6:34 left to lift the Titans past Brockport 3-2.
* Jacob Woods converted a feed from fellow sophomore James McDonald with 4:20 to play as
Potsdam claimed consecutive Section X titles for the first time in school history with a 3-2 victory against Massena. Robbie Scott's 13th goal of the season, on a power play 6:26 into the third period, had broken a 2-2 tie.
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Salmon River (Fort Covington) topped St. Lawrence 3-0 for the Division II championship. Matt Healy turned aside 12 shots for the shutout.
ODDS AND ENDS Hicksville senior Tim Parker has been selected Gatorade's Male Soccer Player of the Year for New York. Parker, who'll play at St. John's next season, scored 25 goals and added eight assists last fall for the Comets.
John Schiano, who has written about high school sports in western and central New York for more than 25 years, covers New York for MaxPreps. He may be reached at john.schiano@maxpreps.com.
