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Jeff DiVeronica recaps the state championship run by the Spencerport girls soccer team with coach Jamie Schneider and players, Leah Wengender and Luca Famer
Jeff DiVeronica

How do you top winning a state championship?

Win back-to-back titles. 

That’s the goal for Spencerport (Class A) and Wheatland-Chili (Class D). Both Section V girls soccer champions won state titles last fall and each have strong groups back to defend their crowns. The Rangers and Wildcats have been voted No. 1 in the Democrat and Chronicle‘s preseason large- and small-school coaches polls.

The large-school poll includes teams from Class AA and A (based on enrollment). The small-school poll features teams from Class B, C and D.

More: Spencerport girls soccer rallies to win 1st state crown

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Spencerport defeated Aquinas 2-0 to capture their first girls soccer crown since 2007. (Oct. 29, 2016) Video by
Jeff DiVeronica

Spencerport went 21-0-2 and finished fourth USA Today‘s national rankings. The state crown was its first. Coach Jamie Schneider’s team has eight returning starters, led by All-Greater Rochester selections Erin Coykendall (forward), Leah Wengender and Luca Fahmer (midfielders) and goalkeeper Lauren Opladen, who posted 16 shutouts and allowed just five goals in 2016. Stopper Olivia Wall, a second-team AGR pick, was another key player and is part of the Rangers’ impressive junior class with those other returnees. 

RELATED: 2016 All-Greater Rochester Girls Soccer

They open the season Aug. 29 by hosting Wayne at 5:15 p.m.

Like Spencerport, Wheatland-Chili’s starting lineup includes eight girls who lined up with the first team last fall. The Wildcats went 22-1 and captured their first state title since 1991, both under veteran coach Gary Ward (36 years). His 482 victories are believed to be the most in Section V history and are among the most in the state. The Wildcats were state runners-up in 2015.

RELATED: Wheatland-Chili girls top Hammond in Class D state soccer

Twin sisters Hannah and Abbey Callaghan are the senior leaders for W-C with forward Allyssa Seilheimer. Hannah, an attacking midfielder, was named first-team AGR and the Class D state Player of the Year after scoring 27 goals and adding 11 assists. She and her sister were among Section V’s eight first-team All-State selections.

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After finishing as runners-up last fall, the Wildcats are through to the Class D semifinals Saturday with seven other Section V soccer teams.
Jeff DiVeronica talks with coach Gary Ward and midfielders and twin sisters Abbey and Hannah Callaghan.
Jeff DiVeronica

Junior forward Cassie Parker (13 goals) and freshman Jenna LaMere (12) also hit double figures in goals for Wheatland-Chili, which opens the season Sept. 7 against Caledonia-Mumford in a match at Livonia. Cal-Mum (Class C2) was 11-4-4 last year. W-C hosts Byron-Bergen on Sept. 11. The Bees went 15-3 last fall and handed the Wildcats their only loss, 3-2. They also have several key players back.

Polls, of course, don’t mean much. Just ask the Victor girls, who come in at No. 3 this fall in the preseason rankings. The Blue Devils were never ranked higher than third last year despite having a strong nucleus back from their 2015 Section V Class AA title team and went on to repeat.

MORE: Victor girls leave no doubt, repeat as soccer champ

While W-C was voted No. 1 in the poll, it received only two of the five first-place votes. No. 2 Livonia got two and reigning Section V Class B champion Palmyra-Macedon received the other one. The Red Raiders are tied with Byron-Bergen for the fifth slot. Defending Section V Class C1 champion and state runner-up, Geneseo, is fourth and York is third.

With seven returning starters from a 15-2-1 club that was upset in the Section V semifinals by Penfield, Fairport is No. 2 in the poll and Penfield is fourth. Webster Schroeder rounds out the top five.

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The Blue Devils beat Penfield 4-1 to repeat as Section V Class AA girls soccer champion. (Oct. 29, 2016) Video by
Jeff DiVeronica

JDIVERON@Gannett.com

LARGE-SCHOOL COACHES’ POLL

1 – Spencerport (5 first-place votes)     
Points:  50.
Class: A.

2 – Fairport  
Points: 42.
Class: AA.

3 – Victor     
Points: 40.
Class: AA.

4 – Penfield     
Points: 35.
Class: AA.

5 – Webster Schroeder     
Points: 25.
Class: AA.

6 – Pittsford Sutherland      
Points: 19.
Class: A.

7 – Greece Athena    
Points: 17.
Class: A.

8 – Webster  Thomas     
Points: 13.
Class: AA.

9 – Brighton     
Points: 10.
Class: A.

10 – Mercy     
Points: 9.
Class: A.

Also received votes: Brockport, Churchville-Chili, Greece Arcadia, Hilton, Pittsford Mendon.

SMALL-SCHOOL COACHES’ POLL

1 – Wheatland-Chili (2 first-place votes)     
Points: 42.
Class: D1.

2 – Livonia (2)
Points: 36.
Class: B.

3 – York
Points: 31.
Class: D1.

4 – Geneseo
Points: 29.
Class: C2.

5 – Palmyra-Macedon     
Points: 26.
Class: B.

5 (tie) – Byron-Bergen (1)      
Points: 26.
Class: C1.

7 – Hornell    
Points: 25.
Class: B.

8 – Addison
Points: 15.
Class: C1.

9 – Caledonia-Mumford
Points: 12.
Class: C2.

10 – Marion
Points: 8.
Class: C2.

Also received votes: Arkport, Avon, Fillmore, South Seneca, Warsaw.