Leading off today: Section 1 boys soccer teams completed a dominating postseason Sunday by winning four NYSPHSAA championships in Middletown for an unprecedented sweep.
The section's four playoff representatives (they did not have a Class D entry) outscored opponents 41-11 in 19 playoff victories.
In 2013, Nassau County teams won two New York State Public High School Athletic Association finals outright and had two other teams share titles after playing to ties in championship games.
Prior to this year, Section 1 only had a total of three state champions in boys soccer going back to 2008.
Two of the Sunday finals were decided in overtime, with Class A Somers -- directed by rookie coach Brian Lanzetta, a Somers alum -- downing Grand Island 2-1 and Class C North Salem defeating Rochester World of Inquiry/School #58 2-1.
Sophomore Jon Riina delivered the winning goal for Somers with just over three minutes to go in the second OT.
"I feel like I'm dreaming," Lanzetta told The Journal News. "I want someone to punch me or something."
North Salem's golden goal was also delivered with three minutes to play in the second overtime. Michael Bossi connected to seal the programs first championship since 1993.
WOI had the better of play throughout with 12 of the contest's 14 corner kicks, a 28-5 margin in shots and a 12-5 advantage in shots on goal, but North Salem doggedly challenged for nearly every loose ball.
"It was amazing to score that goal," Bossi said. "We've worked so hard all year and that was the best possible reward we could have gotten."
New Ro triumphs: New Rochelle earned its first state championship since 1986 by edging Fairport 2-1 in Class AA.
Neither team had a shot on goal until Harwan Alzuabidi struck midway through the first half, but Fairport tied the contest less than two minutes later. Junior Omar Espinoza scored the eventual game-winner for New Rochelle early in the second half, then the Huguenots clamped down on defense the rest of the way.
Hastings takes Class B: Hastings dominated early play, took command with two Jackson Silverstein goals midway through the first half and went on to a 3-1 win over Westhill for its first state title.
The Yellow Jackets continued to play ball-control soccer and did not allow a shot on goal until early in the second half.
Hastings goalkeeper Michael Limitone made two saves.
Boys Class D: The day's third double-OT thriller saw Alfred-Almond deliver a championship to Section 5 with a 2-1 win over Fort Ann.
Jake Johnston scored the winning goal as the Eagles captured their first state title.
Reign is over: Arlington overcame a deficit in the second half and knocked off Massapequa 2-1 in double overtime in the NYSPHSAA girls Class AA final in Cortland, snapping the Long Island program's three-year title run.
Molly Fieghan connected for the winning goal in the 93rd minute. Her sister Kendall Fieghan had tied the game in regulation.
"Throughout this sectional run, we played in eight matches," Arlington coach Kieran McIlveny said. "Five of them we had to come back, I knew we could do it."
Two for Section 5 girls: Unceremoniously bounced from the first round of the 2015 Section 5 tournament despite being seeded No. 1, Spencerport capped a 21-0-2 season by edging Jamesville-DeWitt in the Class A final.
