Two more impressive efforts left the Christian Brothers Academy girls lacrosse team a single victory away from repeating as Section III Class C champions.
Without a doubt, the Brothers enjoyed its top-seed status, gaining a first-round bye and some much-needed rest – six days in all.
So by the time CBA returned for last Tuesday’s Class C quarterfinal against no. 9 seed Cazenovia, it was refreshed and ready to pounce – which it did, eliminating the Lakers 18-11.
Cazenovia, who had edged Marcellus 14-13 in the May 19 opening round, was much more productive on this occasion than in CBA’s 15-5 win over them two weeks earlier. Colleen Dougherty led the visitors’ efforts, scoring four times.
Still, the Brothers were too potent, especially Caroline Webster, who in her last regular-season home game at Alibrandi Stadium had five goals plus a pair of assists, and Marisa Romeo, who backed up her four goals with four assists.
In support, Taylor Poplawski notched a three-goal hat trick, adding an assist, while Michelle Wiese got two goals and one assist. Kara Dell’uomo and Meg Hannan each had one goal and one assist as Alyssa and Olivia Pitonzo scored, too.
Two days later, at Henninger’s Sunnycrest Field, CBA met no. 4 seed Tully in the Class C semifinals, the Black Knights having beaten General Brown (14-5) and South Jefferson (11-8) to get this far.
Again, it was a regular-season rematch (the Brothers prevailed 19-9 at home April 28), and again CBA was superior in the sequel, slowly wearing down the Black Knights on the way to a 17-8 win.
Having seen what the Brothers could do, Tully went right after them in the first half, earning a fair amount of success on the offensive end as Alexis Drumm would eventually get three goals and Allison Bolt will score twice.
CBA didn’t’ mind the pace, though, for it still found itself leading the Black Knights 10-6 at halftime, and proceeded to clamp down on the defensive end in the second half to make sure that it got no closer. Ellie Kelly and Alyssa Pitonzo anchored the back line, and Courtney Henderson would record 14 saves.
Meanwhile, the Brothers’ potent quartet of stars went to work again. Poplawski worked her total to four goals and three assists, while Romeo scored five times, adding an assist. Webster and Sophie Racciatti both finished with three goals and one assist. Dell’uomo and Wiese had the other goals.
And this sets up a familiar Class C final Tuesday at West Genesee, where CBA would again try to beat Skaneateles. The no. 2 seed Lakers rode fast starts to playoff wins over Mexico (18-6) and Watertown IHC (12-6) as Carly Davis scored a combined 10 goals in those contests.
This, of course, is a rematch of the 2011 final, won by the Brothers on the way to a state title, and CBA also claimed both regular-season meetings with Skaneateles, too, by scores of 9-7 and 17-6.
