Coached by alumni and determined to add to a history dotted with sectional and state championships, both of the varsity lacrosse teams at West Genesee got off to strong and quick starts in 2023.
As defending Class B sectional champions, the boys Wildcats hosted Vestal and found itself trailing in the fourth quarter before, playing its best lacrosse in the homestretch, it got a 10-8 win over the Golden Bears.
For the most part, the two sides exchanged goals most of the way. Vestal inched in front 3-2 by the end of the first quarter and then equaled what WG produced in the game’s middle stages.
Then, down 8-7 going to the final period, the Wildcats’ defense stepped up and blanked the Golden Bears, giving the hosts time to tie it and then go in front.
Liam Burns, fresh off leading WG’s ice hockey team to the state Division I title, had two goals and two assists, his point total only matched by Nash Oudemool’s three goals and one assist.
Another hockey hero from the winter, Jack Mellen, also scored twice, with Teshale Kelly, Zach Ryan and Jack Giannuzzi getting single goals and Ryan Considine adding an assist.
Going to East Syracuse Minoa last Tuesday, the Wildcats turned to other players and, led by Considine and Oudemool, steadily pulled away to beat the Spartans 15-6.
All told, Considine had four goals, adding an assist, while Oudemool scored three times. Burns and Ryan had two goals apiece, Burns getting a pair of assists as Mellen, Giannuzzi and Nolan Bellotti each had one goal and one assist, Jake McMahon also finding the net.
Back home Thursday to meet Section V’s Fairport, WG suffered a setback, taking a 9-7 defeat to the Red Raiders.
A back-and-forth first half saw Fairport go in front 6-4 before the Wildcats shut them out in the third quarter and tied it, 6-6. Yet it was the visiting Red Raiders that got the last scoring push.
Oudemool and Giannuzzi both produced a pair of goals. Burns and Considine both had one goal and one assist as Shane Staudt, in goal, recorded six saves.
This followed the March 31 season debut of the WG girls lacrosse side against Auburn, where the Wildcats leaned heavily on its depth to put away the Maroons 14-7.
Eight different WG players would put in a goal by day’s end, with only junior Mia Gialto finding the net three times for a hat trick as Olivia Blanding put up two goals and three assists.
Ashleigh Blanding had two goals and two assists, with Caraline Major and Sophia Lawrence also converting twice. Sofia Snyder and Molly Doran each had one goal and one assist as Lauren Petty added a goal.
A week later, WG took on Westhill, and it proved a far different outcome as the Warriors played the game at its own pace and, in the end, edged the Wildcats 7-6.
All game long, the two sides stayed within close range, possessions valuable and goals even more so, and it wasn’t until the closing minutes that Westhill was able to inch ahead for good.
Kara Rosenberger, with three goals, and Karly Dillobaugh, with two goals, paced the Warriors, single goals going to Rosemary Mahoney and Sophia Lasher as Adelaide Lowery got three assists. Anna Rosenberger made six saves as, for the Wildcats, Doran and Gialto had two goals apiece, with Lawrence and Ashleigh Blanding also converting.
