Clarence boys, girls sweep Class AA soccer
Scalzi, Berardi net game-winners
Clarence knew they weren't going to get a lot of scoring opportunities against Williamsville North. Enter Chris Berardi.
The Red Devils sophomore delivered with the game's only goal as the Red Devils beat the Spartans, 1-0, to win the Section VI Class AA boys soccer title. Saturday night's game was played before an estimated 1,100 at Dimp Wagner Field at Amherst.
Junior Derek Maier got the assist when he flicked a header over the last two defenders and Berardi was able to run onto it and place it past the keeper, who had come out.
"I saw him flick it on [past the defense] and I was in the right place at the right time and I put it in," said Berardi, after scoring his seventh goal.
The Red Devils (14-3-1) advance to next Saturday's Far West Regionals in Spencerport against the champion from Section V. It will be the second trip in a row for the Red Devils, who reached the state final last year.
This was the third meeting of the season between these ECIC I foes. Clarence won the first game, 2-0, while North won the second meeting, 3-2.
"These two teams know each other so well I think it comes down to passion and just heart," said Clarence coach Mike Silverstein. "You know Will North has it, every time we play them they play with passion, but we matched it today, we needed to come with that passion and pride that we have for our program. We needed it to pay off and work as hard as they do. Eventually, one of us makes one mistake and a goal gets through."
North ends the season 14-4.
Girls
Trying to cross it in front to a teammate, junior Laura Scalzi got a much better result as she scored the game's lone goal for Clarence in a 1-0 win over Williamsville North in the Class AA final. Scalzi's seventh goal of the season came on an assist from sophomore Tori Nappo at the 20:30 mark of the first half.
The goal stood, as North's best chance to tie it came when sophomore Alexis Koral hit a crossbar at the 27-minute mark. Junior goalkeeper Ashley Harof had the shutout for Clarence.
"They have some kids who are talented up front who can do some damage," said Clarence coach Tim Liffiton. "The last time we played them we were fortunate to beat them, 1-0. But we shut them down pretty much to one or two decent chances. So I was proud of the way our defense played."
Helping carry the Clarence defense was junior Brianna Cimato, senior Jamie Marfurt, senior Shannon Letina and senior Valorie Nappo.
Clarence (14-4-1) advances to the Far West Regional next Saturday at Amherst where they will play Penfield of Section V.
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