SOCCER

Defending state girls soccer champs Spencerport, Wheatland-Chili are No. 1 in early polls

Jeff DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle

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

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 7 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

Some Wheatland-Chili players pose with the Class D state championship plaque after winning the title last fall.

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.

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.

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.