Leading off today: Monroe-Woodbury pulled off a soccer double on Sunday by winning NYSPHSAA boys and girls championships.
The boys completed a 21-0 season with a 2-0 victory over Clarence in the boys Class AA final in Middletown. Midway through the final, the Crusaders learned that the girls squad had edged Bethlehem in their Class AA title game in Cortland.
"When I heard that, I knew it was in the bag (for us)," senior Ikiel Collins-Brown said. "I was telling everyone on our team if we make it to the final, we already won in my mind."
Christ Valle headed home the go-ahead goal midway though the first half and Colin Lagarde added a second goal 14 minutes later as M-W became the first Section 9 boys team to win the state's large-school title since Newburgh Free Academy in 2009.
"I don't really have words to describe how proud I am and how happy I am with what they achieved," coach Kenny Clearwater said. "It's beyond incredible. It's a huge step forward for us. Some of these guys, Ikiel, Christian Garner and Joe Nastu, I've known since they were 7 or 8 years old. It's been fun to watch them grow up on the soccer field."
The girls scored with 13:44 to play, courtesy of Kaelyn Salatto knocking home Colleen Kinsella's corner kick.
"Everything happened so fast," Salatto said. "My heart just dropped."
Monroe-Woodbury (19-1-1) blanked all four of its opponents in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament. Goalkeeper Angela Fini turned back eight Bethlehem shots in the final, getting help from the crossbar and a post during one wild scramble midway through the second half.
"I am just so happy that we won and so happy that nothing went into the net," Fini said. "Today is a good day."
A first for Stillwater: Capping off a pulverizing run through the playoffs, Stillwater beat Little Falls 5-0 in Class C for its first NYSPHSAA championship in the sport.
Junior Brooke Pickett connected for the first three goals in the final for Stillwater, which won three state tournament games by a combined 15-0 margin. Stillwater's total postseason margin was 39-1 over seven games.
"The first one, that one was just like, 'Thank God. OK. Now we got to keep going,'" Pickett said. "That second one was more, 'Now we're on a roll. We can keep this up and we can win it.'"
Stillwater (22-0-1) lost the 2017 title game to Allegany-Limestone 3-2.
"When we got back to the finals, we knew we had to get it done and we were going to do anything we could to get it done," coach Christine Ihnatolya said.
Kendall girls win: Kendall lost five games during the regular season, but all the setbacks were to Class B or C teams as a roster including 12 freshmen or sophomores got