Over the last three months, the Rochester Knighthawks have been front and center on the local high school lacrosse scene as part of a weekly series featuring the latest news and notes, scores and stats of select games around the Greater Rochester Area.
The final High School Game of the Week features the Churchville-Chili Saints (2-11) and the Greece Strom (6-8) in boy’s lacrosse action on Thursday.
Greece comes into Thursday’s matchup with a 3-3 mark over its last six games, which includes a 7-6 win over Canandaigua this past Tuesday. The team is 2-0 in the two previous matchups against the Saints while outscoring Churchville-Chili 17-13. Greece picked up a 9-8-win last season and earned an 8-5 victory in 2019.
Junior Andrew Hill paces the Storm offense with 22 goals, which includes at least one goal in 10 straight games. The All-League Honorable Mention began that span by posting four consecutive hat tricks. He finished the 2021-22 slate by leading the team in goals (27) and points (33) in 15 contests.
Junior Matthew Ranalletta (28) tops the team in assists (10) while freshman James Maccallini (21) and junior Aiden Early (16) are the last of the three to post double digits in points.
Goaltender Jonathan Bucciarelli enters the contest showing a 6-8 record while making 184 saves in 585 minutes. Despite winning only four games in 2022, Bucciarelli, who committed to Jacksonville, was named an All-League Honorable Mention.
Fellow netminder Esteban Valle Vergara has appeared in eight games this season, making six saves in 93 minutes.
Head coach Shane Cole shows a 16-29 record since taking over the program in 2020. Cole, who played high school lacrosse at Rush-Henrietta, is joined by assistants Tim Santiago, Keith Keehn, Mike Cooper.
Notable Greece boy’s alumni that a currently playing in college include; Hunter Barnard (OCC) – Paul Forte (Alfred) – Jake Hill (MCC) – Owen Infantino (MCC) – Steven Laframboise (MCC) – Ryan Makowski (GCC) – Brandon Pignato (TCC) – Adrian Romero (Alfred) – Luke Strong (Morrisville) – Jamie Tackley (MCC).
The Saints come into Thursday’s tilt having split the last four games to begin the final month of the campaign. Churchville-Chili snapped a 10-game losing skid with their 13-1 thumping over Gates-Chili before posting a 14-4 win versus East United-Eastridge.
Junior Colin Duncan paces the Churchville-Chili offense with 32 goals, which includes multiple goals in nine of his 11 games this season. In 40 career games, Duncan has scored 104 goals to go with 37 assists for 141 points. In his debut with the Saints in 2019, he totaled seven points (6+1).
Freshman Jaxon Leonard (17) tops all Saints with 17 assists while also joining juniors Dominic Hoch (16) and Cameron Gefell (13), and seniors Brock Osborne (19) and Sean Levey (13) with double figures in points.
Osborne, Duncan, Hoch, Hoff, Leonard, and Cameron Taylor all were the recipient of postseason laurels in 2022.
Duncan has committed to the University at Albany while Levey and Caleb Quinn will take their talents to Robert Wesleyan University.
Senior goaltender Bradley Shaw enters with one win in 12 appearances while sophomore Beckham Clancy has posted a 2-4 mark in six games.
Head coach Chris Fiala shows a 12-19 record since taking over the program prior to the start of the 2022 season.
Notable Churchville-Chili boy’s alumni that a currently playing in college include; Jacob Buck (Canisius) – Nicholas Colucci (RPI) – Ryan Mead (SUNY Poly) – Patrick Mitchell (Canisus) – Liam Podszebka (SUNY Poly) – Braeden Schmidt (Brockport) – Brett Seaman (St John Fisher) – Patrick Sheridan (Brockport) – Ryan Terhaar (Mercyhurst) – Corey Yunker (Albany).
