ONONDAGA COUNTY – If, once more, a Section III boys lacrosse championship gets decided between Fayetteville-Manlius and West Genesee, the two long-time rivals would arrive at it on something close to even terms.
The Hornets went to Mike Messere Field last Tuesday night and, rallying in the fourth quarter, edged the Wildcats 14-13, avenging a 12-10 defeat when the two sides met at F-M in April.
Back then, it was WG pulling off the late-game comeback after trailing 7-4 at the break. Here, the situation would repeat itself, only in F-M’s favor.
The Wildcats jumped out of the gate and led 5-2 after one period, maintaining that lead the rest of the half with solid play on both ends.
So the Hornets entered the third quarter trailing 7-5, but didn’t get rattled by a frantic third-quarter pace that saw each side constantly find the net.
Once the fourth quarter started, F-M, still behind 11-10, would find its way to the front and hang on led mostly by Rob Madden, who netted seven goals, half the Hornets’ output, plus an assist.
John Angelicola, with three goals and one assist, offered support, while Sean Kellish had a goal and two assists. David Concannon, Jack Hearn and Michael Hance also found the net as Charles Addonizio got two assists and Taden Minichillo one assist.
Liam Burns, Jack Mellen (four goals each) and Ryan Considine (three goals) accounted for most of WG’s production.
Having seen eight of its first 11 games decided by two goals or less, the Hornets ventured to Liverpool on Thursday night and, again, escaped with a tight one, this one by a score of 5-4.
Defenses ruled on this night, with only one goal exchanged in the first quarter and two in the second period to create a 3-3 halftime tie, far different than what happened at West Genesee.
Yet F-M adjusted to it, and kept Liverpool off the board the entire third quarter and most of the final period, too, which made up for seeing so many shots go into the pocket of goalie Owen Salanger, who made 21 saves.
Not letting down on Saturday, F-M beat Auburn 10-7 for its fifth win in a row, building a 6-3 lead through three periods and answering the Maroons’ late push.
Angelicola again scored three times, helped by Madden and Colin Clark getting two goals apiece. Kellish again finished with one goal and two assists. Hearn had one goal and one assist.
Christian Brothers Academy also is part of the Class B picture, and had quite an impressive wins last Tuesday as it went to defending sectional Class D champion LaFayette/Onondaga and rolled past the Lancers 17-9.
Down 4-2 after one quarter, the Brothers put up 12 unanswered goals in the second and third quarters, keyed by Johnny Massaro winning 17 of the 19 face-offs he took and Matt Craybas stopping everything on his way to 14 saves.
Joe Papa scored six times, with Andrew Kohlbrenner getting four goals and two assists. Will Cannizzo had three goals and one assist, Jack Wichmann adding two goals and three assists. Ben Anderson and James Stanton also converted.
Just as good was Friday’s 17-10 win over Marcellus, the Mustangs having started the season 12-0 before taking back-to-back defeats to Skaneateles and Westhill.
Here, the Brothers survived a wild first quarter, shut out Marcellus in the second and controlled matters the rest of the way with an unstoppable three-pronged attack.
Kohlbrenner, with six goals and five assists, reached double digits in points, but Papa dazzled, too, with five goals and Cannizzzo stepped up to score four times. Stanton and Luke DeLorenzo added goals and Wichmann got two assists.
A day later, CBA had enough energy left to break out of a 3-3 tie in the fourth quarter of a low-scoring contest and win 8-5, carried by Kohlbrenner, who had six goals. Papa had two assists as the other goals went to Cannizzo and Ty Green.
