Leading off today: There are four Section 1 boys soccer teams set to play for NYSPHSAA championships on Sunday. The fact that New Rochelle is one of them says something about the team's patience and determination.
Down three goals at the half, the Huguenots struck three times in a seven-minute span and went on to a 4-3 win in overtime over Calhoun in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals.
Harwan Alzuabidi headed in a perfect cross from the right sideline by Stevenson Dieudonne six minutes into overtime to advance the Huguenots into the Class AA championship game in Middletown.
"We never stop working hard," Alzuabidi told The Journal News after finishing with two goals and an assist. "Stevenson got the ball, saw me and crossed it. I knew I had to make it. You never know what's going to happen if we don't score that goal."
Eric Steward had two goals for the Colts.
Fairport advanced to its third title game in four years by beating Bethlehem in penalty kicks 4-3 after a scoreless tie. The Red Raiders lost 1-0 to Massapequa in 2013 and 2-0 to Commack in 2014 in the final.
Matt Gasbarre connected for Fairport in the fifth round. Facing a score-or-go-home scenario, the final Bethlehem shooter fired too high.
Down to the wire: Frankie Santiago scored on a header with :42 left off a throw-in by James Weh to lift World of Inquiry/School #58 to a 2-1 comeback win over Lansing and into the Class C championship game.
The Griffins, who lost in the 2014 final, are trying to become the first boys soccer team from the Rochester City School District to win a state crown.
WOI had tied it two minutes after halftime as top scorer Toyi Hakizimana set up Weh for the goal.
"Oh my gosh, they're excited," coach Rich Paufler told the Democrat and Chronicle. "We played a really poor first half and the guys were down on themselves a bit, so at halftime we reminded them we have a lot of soccer left to play and we needed all of it."
Section 1 has captured only one boys title since 2009. North Salem will be one of them after a 7-0 rout of Potsdam in the other Class C semifinal. Frank DiGiacomo, John Martabano and Michael Dutt scored in the first 16 minutes.
Sudden finalists: Somers captain Jack Maher scored three minutes into sudden death for a 1-0 win over Amityville in Class A.
Working the ball in the center of the box with just the keeper in his way, Maher blasted the ball past Timothy Hermann and into the back of the net.
"It didn't feel real, it was so awesome. I just started celebrating with all our fans who came to see us," Maher said.
Somers' Kenny Kurtz made seven saves for the shutout.
Going for four: Massapequa continues to live dangerously, but the Chiefs are still breathing in their quest
