Questions demand answers. In the early stages of another girls soccer season in Section V, the former outnumbers the latter. While that will change in the months to come, it's worth pondering what will be learned along the way.
Here are five questions for Fall 2026 girls soccer season:
Question No. 1: What are the classifications for the 2026 season?
Come sectionals in late fall, there will be eight tournaments. Class C will be split into two brackets, and the winner of each will play each other in a state-qualifying game.
Class AAA: Fairport, Penfield, RCSD United, Rush-Henrietta
Class AA: Aquinas, Brighton, Brockport, Canandaigua, Churchville-Chili, Eastridge, Gates Chili, Greece Arcadia, Greece Athena, Hilton, Irondequoit, Pittsford Mendon, Spencerport, Victor, Webster Schroeder, Webster Thomas
Class A: Batavia,
Bishop Kearney/Chesterton/HAC, Geneva, Greece Olympia, Honeoye Falls-Lima, Newark/Lyons, Our Lady of Mercy, Pittsford Sutherland, Rochester Prep, Wayne
Class B: Canisteo-Greenwood, Dansville, Gananda/Marion, Haverling, Hornell, Le Roy, Livonia, Marcus Whitman, Midlakes, Mynderse, North Rose-Wolcott, Palmyra-Macedon, Penn Yan, Sodus, Waterloo, Wayland-Cohocton, Wellsville
Class C: Addison, Alexander, Attica, Avon, Bloomfield, Byron-Bergen, Caledonia-Mumford, Campbell-Savona/Bradford, Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg, Dundee/Hammondsport, East Rochester, Fillmore, Genesee Valley-Belfast, Geneseo, Holley, Kendall, Keshequa, Letchworth, Naples, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Pavilion-York, Pembroke, Red Creek, Red Jacket, South Seneca/Romulus, Warsaw, Wheatland-Chili, Williamson
Class D: Alfred-Almond, Andover, Arkport-Canaseraga, Avoca-Prattsburgh, Batavia Notre Dame, CG Finney, Friendship-Scio, Honeoye, Jasper-Troupsburg, Lima Christian, Mt. Morris, Northstar Christian
Question No. 2: Which teams are defending titles from last season?
Last season was unique in this respect: While there were eight section tournaments, Section V crowned 10 champions.
Both the Class AA title game (featuring Churchville-Chili and Spencerport) and the Class B-2 final (Gananda/Marion versus Williamson) exited two overtime sessions without a winner. In such a situation, the teams are declared co-champions. Penalty kicks, five per side, then determine which team advances.
Last season, Churchville-Chili and Williamson had the edge in PKs. The Saints eventually reached the Class AA state final, while the Marauders bowed out in the state qualifier against Livonia.
Here's a review of last season's finals:
- Class AAA: Fairport 2, Rush-Henrietta 0
- Class AA: Churchville-Chili 1, Spencerport 1 (Churchville-Chili advanced on PKs)
- Class A: Aquinas 1, Pittsford Sutherland 0
- Class B-1: Livonia 4, Haverling 0
- Class B-2: Gananda/Marion 0, Williamson 0 (Williamson advanced on PKs)
- Class C-1: Holley 2, Canisteo-Greenwood 1
- Class C-2: Byron-Bergen 1, Kendall 0
- Class D: Fillmore 2, Northstar Christian Academy 0
Question No. 3: Who are the returning All-Greater Rochester selections?
This season features the most returning AGR picks in recent memory, with seven first-teamers and nine second-teamers back for another season. There will be a new top player, however, as Byron-Bergen's Mia Gray is among the graduates.
Here are returning selections from last season:
Haley Drake, Greece Athena senior: Attacking midfielder was also Monroe County-III's Player of the Year and a second-team all-state selection.
Elise Faix, Churchville-Chili sophomore: Faix scored 17 goals as a freshman, helping the Saints reach the Class AA state title game. The forward was also first-team all-county last year.
Sienna Fallone, Aquinas senior: The Lil Irish midfielder is already a three-time AGR selection and will play at Dartmouth College after high school.
Ali Fowler, Geneseo senior: Midfielder is the Blue Devils' all-time leading scorer, after a 30-goal, 14-assist season in 2025.
Braelyn Isaman, Keshequa senior: Wildcats forward was also a third-team all-state pick in Class C and, with 20 helpers last season, holds the program record for career assists.
Lucy Peters, Brighton senior: Central midfielder recorded 18 goals last season and was placed on second-team all-state in Class AA.
Lyla Schenck, Penfield senior: Center back, a fourth-team all-state selection, helped the Patriots shut out eight opponents last year.
Returning second-teamers include: Eliana Biehler (Fairport), Jaden Deming (Aquinas), Briar Hinds (Aquinas), Avery Hoffman (Gananda/Marion), Blair Maxwell (Livonia), Reghan Maxwell (Livonia), Sarah Niles (Williamson), Hillary Ostar (Brighton), Elizabeth Riley (Pittsford Sutherland)
Question No. 4: How will last year's NYSPHSAA finalists fare?
Churchville-Chili (Class AA), Aquinas (A) and Livonia (C) all climbed the mountain to their respective state finals, but ultimately exited the host Cortland area as runners-up in their respective brackets.
If recent history is any indication, a return trip to the state finals will be difficult but not unheard of. In the last decade, there are three teams that appeared in back to back state championship games: Wheatland-Chili (2016 and 2017 in Class D), Spencerport (2016 and 2017 in Class A) and Haverling (2022 and 2023 in Class B).
Aquinas seems particularly well-equipped for a return trip. The Lil Irish bring back their two top scorers (midfielder Sienna Fallone and forward Jaden Deming) and starting goalkeeper (Briar Hinds). Livonia, too, retained a fair amount of talent, with sisters Blair Maxwell and Reghan Maxwell, both all-state selections last year, among the returners.
Churchville-Chili graduated a good chunk of its team, but should reload nicely. Ava Fedele and Hailey Hotaling were both all-tournament team selections for last year's Class AA section tournament. Elise Faix, only a sophomore, was a top scorer.
Question No. 5: Which teams are poised to end extensive title droughts?
When Churchville-Chili won in Class AA last season, it was the program's first title in over 20 years. There are several teams looking to end similar droughts this fall.
Pittsford Sutherland has appeared in three straight Class A section title games. The Knights fell to Aquinas in both 2023 and 2025, and Pittsford Mendon in 2024. Those opponents have both bumped to Class AA this season, paving the way for a Sutherland program that has not won a section title since 1994. With a strong group of seniors, including first-team all-state selection Lizzie Riley, expect the Knights to contend again.
Greece Athena, its last section title in 2006, owned the No. 2 seed in last year's tournament but bowed out in the quarterfinals against Penfield. Led by offensive dynamo Haley Drake and defender Alexis Drake, the Trojans should be counted among the favorites in Class AA this season.
Bloomfield (2008), Canisteo-Greenwood (1986 pre-merger), CG Finney (2000), Wayne (1991), Webster Thomas (2014) and Wellsville (1993) are some other 10-win teams looking to end sectional dry spells.
— Justin Ritzel works as a sports reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on Section V athletics and high school trends.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Five big questions facing Section V girls soccer in 2026
