CENTRAL NEW YORK – Holding the top seed, the title of defending champion and the mark of no. 1 in the state rankings, the Marcellus girls soccer team demonstrated in an emphatic manner just how good it could set.

The Mustangs absolutely overwhelmed no. 16 seed Sherburne-Earlville in last Tuesday’s post-season opener, putting up one of the biggest goal totals in sectional tournament history on the way to a 16-0 victory.

Already up 5-0 at halftime, Marcellus put in 11 goals in the second half alone, led by Cece Powell’s three goals and one assist along with two goals and two assists from Lexie Fragnito.

Allie Kaup and Olivia Benz also converted twice, with Neve Murphy, Marielle Kennedy and Hannah Knox getting two assists apiece. Sophia Pilon had a goal and assist as Leah Wood, Samie Gilmore, Drew Johnson, Corrine Aldrich, Jadyn Baker and Sophia Bianchi also found the net.

As if this wasn’t enough, in the quarterfinals Marcellus again got to double digits, ripping no. 8 seed General Brown 10-0.

Twin hat tricks from Powell and Fragnito led the way, their three goals apiece augmented by Baker scoring twice as Knox also converted, with Kaup getting two assists and Pilon a single assist.

Meanwhile, two other local sides also got out of the first round, but went no further.

Skaneateles, the no. 7 seed, needed to wait until overtime before it subdued no. 10 seed Clinton in a tense 1-0 battle at Hyatt Stadium.

Eighty minutes of regulation kept it 0-0, with the Lakers getting most of the opportunities while its defense held the Comets to just three direct shots. This pressure paid off in OT as Carolina McGraw, taking a pass from Allie Michel, put in the game-winning goal, just McGraw’s fourth goal of the season.

Now, facing no. 2 seed Christian Brothers Academy in Thursday night’s quarterfinal, the Lakers’ defense proved superb, but it could not get on the board and lost 1-0 to the Brothers.

Here it was the Lakers under attack most of the way, but it kept the game 0-0 until Olivia Jones’ second-half goal, assisted by Emma Hill, put CBA in front to stay as Skaneateles concluded its season with an 8-9-1 mark.

As for Westhill, the no. 5 seed, it began the playoffs on quite a strong note, getting in front of no. 12 seed Mount Markham by halftime and pulling away late to prevail over that other group of Mustangs 3-0.

It took a pair of second-half goals for that getaway to take place as Delaney Goode, Avery Starowicz and Molly Dorfman all converted, with Kara Rosenberger adding an assist. Sophia Lasher stopped all four shots she faced.

Now Westhill traveled to face no. 4 seed Holland Patent in the quarterfinals knowing that Marcellus loomed in the semifinals – and lost its own tense 1-0 battle to the Golden Knights.

All game long the Warriors had chances, yet could get none of its 11 shots past HP goalie Isabella Hobin, whose work was rewarded in the second half when Faith Zylinsky netted the game’s only goal, assisted by Sophia Rachon, leaving Westhill to conclude its season at 7-10-1.

In Class C, Bishop Ludden, holding the no. 3 seed, had an easy time of it in the first round knocking out no. 14 seed Sandy Creek with a 6-1 romp.

A quick start gave the Gaelic Knights momentum all night, and Ashley Pawelczyk provided the spark on her way to four goals and an assist. Elizabeth Gaughan had a goal and two assists, with single tallies to Grace Olivia, Quinn Sekander and Jane Fallon as Sophia Chemotti had two assists and Evelyn Allers a single assist.

Hosting no. 6 seed Beaver River in the quarterfinals two nights later, Ludden almost saw its season get sunk, pushed into overtime before it was able to pull it out in yet another 1-0 decision.
Eighty minutes of regulation settled nothing, with Tatum Gilbertson stopping all eight of Beaver River’s shots while counterpart Ella St. Croix recorded 12 saves.

Only in the first OT did it end, with Chemotti passing it to Allers, who with perfect timing found Fallon as she beat St. Croix for the game-winner and sent Ludden to Wednesday’s semifinal at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, where it faces a no. 7 seed Westmoreland side that stunned defending champion Sauquoit Valley in the quarterfinals.