Section III boys soccer playoffs begin Wednesday

Eight area-teams earn postseason bids

Many local schools get ready for postseason play.

Eight Dispatch-area teams have an opportunity to shake up the their respective brackets in the Section III postseason.

Class B

No. 6 Chittenango (13-3) begins its postseason campaign at home against No. 11 Phoenix (8-6-2) in the first round on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 5:00 p.m. The Bears, led by head coach Kassie Klein, jumped out of the gates this season, winning seven straight contests. Three straight losses to Westhill, Marcellus, and Cicero-North Syracuse followed, but Chittenango snapped out of the losing skid with a sixgame win streak, one it carries over into the postseason after finishing second in the Onondaga High School League Liberty American Division behind No. 3 seed Westhill.

No. 8 Cazenovia (11-4-1) hosts

No. 9 South Jefferson (12-3-1) in the first round of sectionals at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The Lakers and head coach Kaleen Kelleher closed the regular season as the second-place team in the OHSL Liberty National, trailing only No. 2 seed Marcellus.

Vernon-Verona- Sherrill (10-5) enters sectional play on a three-game win streak after finishing second in the Tri-Valley League Pioneer Division behind Class B No. 1 seed Central Valley Academy. Coach Shawn Lynch and the No. 10 Red Devils will have to travel for their opening round matchup against No. 7 Lowville on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 6:00 p.m.

Camden (7-8-1) finished third in the TVL Pioneer. The No. 13 Blue Devils and first-year coach Ryan Misurda will look to score an upset on the road against No. 4 Clinton (13-2) on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 3:00 p.m.

The No. 18 Canastota Raiders (8- 8) closed the regular season with a .500 to claim a spot in a playin game against Mexico (610). Led by head coach Bob Mengucci, Canastota finished the season fifth in the Center State Conference Division I, and will travel to Mexico on Tuesday, Oct. 22 for a 6:30 p.m. showdown.

Class D

After combining forces with Morrisville-Eaton in previous years, Hamilton (8- 6) enters the 2019 postseason under its own banner as the No. 8 seed. The Emerald Knights get their second season started against No. 9 DeRuyter (9-7) at home on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Madison (6-9-1) begins its postseason journey as the No. 14 seed after finishing in fourth place in the Central Counties League. Head coach Herb Bingel and the Blue Devils hit the road for a firstround battle against No. 3 Copenhagen (14- 0-2) on

Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 3:00 p.m.

Stockbridge Valley (510) claims the final spot in the playoffs as the No. 16 seed after working a fifth place finish in the Central

Counties League. The Cougars and head coach Mark Kiser are rewarded with a road tilt against Poland (14- 0), the bracket’s No. 1 seed, on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 3:00 p.m.

In this file photo, Red Devil freshman Laiken Kiser dribbles past the CVA defense during VVS’ season opener on Tuesday, Sept 4. Kiser and the Red Devils take on Lowville in the opening round of the Class B sectionals.