Will Fairport, Victor make history? 4 Section V girls lacrosse teams to play in state semifinals

Justin Ritzel, Canandaigua Daily Messenger

This year's crop of New York state girls lacrosse champions will be crowned over the weekend. Four Section V teams − Fairport, Victor, Mercy and Penn Yan − are the contenders.

For each, an opportunity at history. Fairport can become only the third program in Section V history to repeat as a state champion, while Victor is the two-time reigning champion in Class B and can be the first Rochester-area team to win three straight. Mercy can extend what's already been an unprecedented season, following its first Section V and regional title. Penn Yan can win its second state title in nearly two decades after claiming its first.

Action begins on Friday at SUNY Cortland and continues on that campus on Saturday. Here's more about Section V's four remaining teams:

Section V dominates regional play: Fairport, Victor, Mercy advance in girls lacrosse

Section V Class A: Fairport Red Raiders

  • Postseason path: W 11-9 vs. Rush-Henrietta (semifinals); W 9-4 vs. Pittsford (final); W 12-7 vs. Section VI's Lancaster (NYSPHSAA regionals).

  • Last state tournament: 2023

  • Up next: Section VIII's Massapequa, 1 p.m. Friday, June 7 at SUNY Cortland.

  • Finals: 2 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at SUNY Cortland.

About Fairport: This marks the first time in program history that Fairport reached the state tournament in consecutive seasons. The Red Raiders are averaging 6.75 goals against per game in four postseason contests. Fairport and Massapequa also played in last spring's state final, won by the Red Raiders 10-9 on Lily Kondas' goal off a pass from Katie Mallaber. Ella Peers leads Fairport in goals (46), assists (34) and draw controls (117) this season. There has not been a repeat state champion in Class A since Section III's West Genesee went back-to-back in 2007-2008.

2023: OT goal by Lily Kondas makes Fairport state champ in girls lacrosse

Section V Class B: Victor Blue Devils

  • Postseason path: W 15-7 vs. Webster Thomas (quarterfinals); W 7-6 vs. Brighton (semifinals); W 15-10 vs. Canandaigua (final); W 22-0 vs. Section VI's Clarence (NYSPHSAA regionals).

  • Last state tournament: 2023

  • Up next: Section XI's West Islip, 3 p.m. Friday, June 7 at SUNY Cortland.

  • Finals: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at SUNY Cortland.

About Victor: With two more wins, Victor would become the sixth school in girls lacrosse state history to win at least three titles in a row, joining Section XI's Mount Sinai (2015-2017), Section XI's Shoreham-Wading River (2007-2010), Section VIII's Garden City (2006-2012, 1999-2002), Section III's West Genesee (2001-2003) and Section I's Yorktown (1996-1998). The Blue Devils' 22 goals against Section VI's Clarence in the NYSPHSAA far west regional matched a season-high. Victor enters the state tournament on a 12-game winning streak. Senior midfielder Devin Livingston scored 16 goals in three Section V tournament games.

Section V Class C: Our Lady of Mercy Monarchs

  • Postseason path: W 18-3 vs. Wayne (semifinals); W 10-9 vs. Honeoye Falls-Lima (final); W 17-8 vs. Section VI's Lake Shore (NYSPHSAA regionals).

  • Last state tournament: N/A

  • Up next: Section XI's Sayville, 9 a.m. Friday, June 7 at SUNY Cortland.

  • Finals: 9 a.m. Saturday, June 8 at SUNY Cortland

About Mercy: Sophomore Mia Quagrello leads Mercy in postseason scoring with nine goals, followed by junior Krista Harnischfeger and sophomore Sydney Cook with seven apiece. Freshman goalie Elinor Meyer made 10 saves in the state regional against Lake Shore, her fifth game with double-digit saves this season. Mercy and Sayville have never reached a state final.

Section V Class D: Penn Yan Mustangs

  • Postseason path: W 19-1 vs. Marcus Whitman (quarterfinals); W 19-3 vs. Aquinas/World of Inquiry (semifinals); W 11-8 vs. Palmyra-Macedon (final); W 17-4 vs. Section VI's Gowanda (NYSPHSAA regionals).

  • Last state tournament: 2006

  • Up next: Section VIII's Cold Spring Harbor, 11 a.m. Friday, June 7 at SUNY Cortland.

  • Finals: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 8 at SUNY Cortland.

About Penn Yan: Penn Yan has not reached a NYSPHSAA championship game since 2006. The Mustangs own two titles (1998, 2004). Sophomore Bailey Cooper ranks second among all Section V players in goals scored (86) and points (118), while senior Taylor Mullins is fourth in draw controls (127). Penn Yan has not lost since the calendar turned to May (9-0). Cold Spring Harbor has reached a state championship game three times since 2014, each instance as a Class C team, and has won two state titles.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Section V girls lacrosse: Will Fairport, Victor repeat as state champs?

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