NISKAYUNA at VICTOR — The last Section V team standing takes on one of Section II's most storied programs Thursday afternoon, as the Victor Blue Devils (20-2) travel to SUNY Cortland for a 4:00 p.m. Class B semifinal showdown against the Niskayuna Silver Warriors (17-3).

Victor has been impressive in the NYS tournament, routing Orchard Park 12-8 in the opening round before Jackson Mead's six-goal, one-assist performance headlined a 17-4 dismantling of Horseheads in the regional quarterfinal, a game that also gave head coach Dan Stone his 100th career win at Victor and pushed sophomore Eli Ricci past 700 career faceoff wins. The Blue Devils are on an eleven-game winning streak and have outscored tournament opponents 29-12.

Niskayuna brings its own momentum to Cortland, having survived back-to-back one-goal thrillers to get here. The Silver Warriors edged Fayetteville-Manlius 14-13 in the regional final on a Parker Kelly goal with less than a minute to play, and haven't lost since April. The 21-time Section II champions are 17-3 with 287 goals on the season, and carry one of the more unusual statistical profiles in the field. They average just 4.6 goals through the first three quarters combined, then erupt for 7.3 in the fourth. The F-M win was no fluke; Niskayuna has been doing this all season.

The teams met once in the regular season, with Victor prevailing 9-6 on April 25 in a game that also marked Ricci's 500th career faceoff win. The sophomore has become one of the most dominant face-off midfielders in Class B, and he will be the central figure again on Thursday. If Victor can control possession and protect a lead into the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils should advance. If Niskayuna can keep it close through three, the Silver Warriors' fourth-quarter track record makes them dangerous.

The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network. The winner advances to the Class B state final at Hobart and William Smith College, in Geneva on Sunday.