The Monroe County League realigned this offseason, going from three divisions to four. Brighton, Pittsford Mendon, Pittsford Sutherland and HF-L are now in Division II.
The name may have changed, but don’t expect the competition level to change on the East Side.
The Vikings scored a key early season victory, defeating the Barons 2-1 on Thursday in what should be the first of many outstanding games in Monroe County’s toughest division. Mendon has opened the season 3-0, also earning a victory over Webster Schroeder.
Harley-Allendale Columbia will look to get back into the thick of the Finger Lakes West race after finishing under .500 last fall. McQuaid is hoping a strong preseason can get them back into contention for a Class AA title.
BRIGHTON BARONS
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Monroe County, Division II
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 13-4-4, defeated Aquinas to win the Section 5 Class A title; Lost on penalty kicks in the state semifinals
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Adam Hiller, second
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Alban Zohn, senior, attack; Jackson Shaw, senior, defense; Casey Kopp, senior, defense; Josh Hunt, junior, midfield
KEY LOSSES: Will Banahene; Garrett Rauck
KEY NEWCOMERS: Manny Gill, junior, midfield; Addison McGinnis, junior, midfield
COACH’S COMMENT: “We have a very good core of kids coming back mixed with a good JV team from last year. We need to be focused for the long season. With new realignment we have no easy games. All 16 games are really tough.”
HARLEY-ALLENDALE COLUMBIA WOLVES
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Finger Lakes, West
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 6-10-1, lost in the first round of the Class C tournament
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Ted Hunt, 23rd
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Alex Frenett, junior, defender; Jordan Bell, senior, defender; Ben Frenett, freshman, midfielder; Gabe Sanchez, junior, midfielder
KEY LOSSES: Colin Herford, Colin Mossbrook
KEY NEWCOMERS: Robbie Smith, sophomore, forward; Bjarn Nelson, sophomore, goalie
COACH’S COMMENT: “Our midfield is where we have the most experience. Our biggest question will be how many sophomores will we have on the field? We will struggle, especially at the beginning of the season as our young players get up to speed.”
HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Monroe County, Division II
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 12-4-2, lost to Brighton in Class A semifinals
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Mike Merrill, seventh
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Savas Hetelkides, senior, midfielder; Austin Darling, senior, midfielder; Danny Segrue, senior, defender
KEY LOSSES: Drew Tallon, Ben Zauski
KEY NEWCOMERS: N/A
COACH’S COMMENT: “We are an extremely young and inexperienced team going into the season, hopefully after gaining some experience we can be competitive in a league with some really solid teams.”
The Monroe County League realigned this offseason, going from three divisions to four. Brighton, Pittsford Mendon, Pittsford Sutherland and HF-L are now in Division II.
The name may have changed, but don’t expect the competition level to change on the East Side.
The Vikings scored a key early season victory, defeating the Barons 2-1 on Thursday in what should be the first of many outstanding games in Monroe County’s toughest division. Mendon has opened the season 3-0, also earning a victory over Webster Schroeder.
Harley-Allendale Columbia will look to get back into the thick of the Finger Lakes West race after finishing under .500 last fall. McQuaid is hoping a strong preseason can get them back into contention for a Class AA title.
BRIGHTON BARONS
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Monroe County, Division II
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 13-4-4, defeated Aquinas to win the Section 5 Class A title; Lost on penalty kicks in the state semifinals
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Adam Hiller, second
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Alban Zohn, senior, attack; Jackson Shaw, senior, defense; Casey Kopp, senior, defense; Josh Hunt, junior, midfield
KEY LOSSES: Will Banahene; Garrett Rauck
KEY NEWCOMERS: Manny Gill, junior, midfield; Addison McGinnis, junior, midfield
COACH’S COMMENT: “We have a very good core of kids coming back mixed with a good JV team from last year. We need to be focused for the long season. With new realignment we have no easy games. All 16 games are really tough.”
HARLEY-ALLENDALE COLUMBIA WOLVES
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Finger Lakes, West
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 6-10-1, lost in the first round of the Class C tournament
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Ted Hunt, 23rd
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Alex Frenett, junior, defender; Jordan Bell, senior, defender; Ben Frenett, freshman, midfielder; Gabe Sanchez, junior, midfielder
KEY LOSSES: Colin Herford, Colin Mossbrook
KEY NEWCOMERS: Robbie Smith, sophomore, forward; Bjarn Nelson, sophomore, goalie
COACH’S COMMENT: “Our midfield is where we have the most experience. Our biggest question will be how many sophomores will we have on the field? We will struggle, especially at the beginning of the season as our young players get up to speed.”
HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Monroe County, Division II
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 12-4-2, lost to Brighton in Class A semifinals
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Mike Merrill, seventh
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Savas Hetelkides, senior, midfielder; Austin Darling, senior, midfielder; Danny Segrue, senior, defender
KEY LOSSES: Drew Tallon, Ben Zauski
KEY NEWCOMERS: N/A
COACH’S COMMENT: “We are an extremely young and inexperienced team going into the season, hopefully after gaining some experience we can be competitive in a league with some really solid teams.”
MCQUAID KNIGHTS
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Rochester City Athletic Conference
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 9-7-1, lost in the first round of the Section 5 Class AA tournament
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Matthew McConnochie, fourth year
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Christian Bovenzi, senior, goalkeeper; Austin Rodger, sophomore, defender; Austin Bovenzi, senior, forward; Sal Barragan, junior, midfielder; Ambrose Ryan, senior, defender
KEY NEWCOMERS: Pat Moynihan, senior, forward; Nicholas Richards, sophomore, midfielder; Evan Crosby, senior, defender; Travis Moran, sophomore, midfielder; Pat O’Flynn, sophomore, defender
COACH’S COMMENT: “We have a talented young team and we had a great preason and team unity. The team will improve over the course of the season.”
PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS
LEAGUE/DIVISION: Monroe County, Division II
2011 RECORD/PLAYOFFS: 12-4-2, lost to Aquinas in the Class A semifinals
COACH/YEAR COACHING: Mark Hurley, 10th
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Josh Eidem, senior, defender; Stephen Betteridge, senior, midfielder; Matt D’Amico, senior, midfielder; Aaron Fowlkes, senior, goalkeeper; Edmond Lin, senior, defender
KEY LOSSES: N/A
KEY NEWCOMERS: Shea Ransford, senior, midfielder
COACH’S COMMENT: “We have to get back to a blue collar work rate. Hark work pays off, not the name on the front of your jersey.”
Please note: Pittsford Sutherland did not return the Brighton-Pittsford Post season preview sheet.
