Leading off today: Williamsville East, a founding member of the Section 6 hockey federation, earned its first championship in its 21-year history Sunday and advanced to the NYSPHSAA Division II quarterfinals with a 2-1 triumph over Kenmore East at HSBC Arena.
The Flames, who did win 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.
"This is something we've never done and we wanted it," eight-year head coach Mike Torrillo told The Buffalo News. "It's something the kids are excited about. ... Now we want to keep going."
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.
"I told them leave no doubt," said Spartans coach Bob Rosen. "Go out and prove you're the best team and I felt we did that."
Also at HSBC, St. Joe's won its first Private/Monsignor Martin Association title in three years by beating St. Francis 2-0.
Section 1 finals: Pelham sophomore goalie Josh Borofsky made 14 saves in a 1-0 win vs. Rye in the Section 1 Division II championship game at West Point. It gave the Pelicans their second title in three years.
"It's an amazing feeling," Borofsky told The Journal News. "I was really nervous and just was praying that the puck didn't go in. My defense kept it out, and it was just a great feeling."
Will Donovan tipped in a pass from fellow freshman Andrew Schauer 1:59 into the third period to account for the only goal against the Garnets, who had outscored their last five opponents by a combined 26-9.
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.
Section 5 finals: Justin Simonelli scored 14 seconds after teammate Ian Cumming stopped a penalty shot, tying the game and sparking Greece Athena/Odyssey past Fairport 4-2 for the Division I championship.
With Fairport ahead 2-1, Cumming stopped Connor Boyd's penalty shot late in the second period. "He came down and I got kind of lucky," Cumming told the Democrat and Chronicle. "It hit my pad and then the post and that was a momentum changer, definitely. I was disappointed that I didn't get a legit save, but at least it didn't go in."
