In the larger context, the fact that the West Genesee girls lacrosse team’s 7-6 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy Thursday night broke up a possible undefeated season just didn’t matter all that much.

High emotions were in place as Wildcat players donned pink socks and fans wore pink in salute of Susan Wolfram, a Stonehedge Elementary School employee and parent to one of the Wildcats’ JV players, who was battling Stage 4 breast cancer.

Minutes before face-off, it was learned that Wolfram passed away. A moment of silence was held, and the Wildcats, battling their emotions, had to turn back its focus to the field and its long-awaited battle with CBA, the reigning Section III Class C champions moved up to the Class B ranks this spring.

Fired up for the challenge, CBA controlled possession time in the first half by winning draws and out-hustling the Wildcats for ground balls, yet still could not hold on to a 3-1 lead as goals by Riley Donahue and Vicki Graveline forged a 3-3 tie at the break.

Freshman Maddie Cook hit on back-to-back goals 1:18 apart early in the second half, putting the Brothers in front 5-3. Twice, the Wildcats would pull back within one, on goals by Taylor Collins and Cailyn Negus (both assisted by Hannah Elmer), and twice CBA would respond, getting goals from Marisa Romeo and Taylor Poplawski.

After Poplawski scored with 9:08 left to give CBA a 7-5 lead, it did not find the net again, and Alia Hildebrandt cut the margin to one barely a minute later.

That left CBA nearly eight minutes to hang on to a tiny margin. It did so with the same defense that had worked much of the night, one that relied on shutting down WG’s trademark backdoor cuts before they could develop.

CBA head coach Doug Sedgwick saved particular praise for senior Maddie Calkins and sophomore Alexa Radziewicz, who followed Elmer and broke up several scoring opportunities.

In the last minute of regulation, WG defender Dina Cavallaro intercepted a wayward CBA pass, giving the Wildcats one more chance to force overtime – but they forced Hildebrandt into a charge near the net, causing a turnover, and ran out the remaining clock.

Just before that, WG, off yet another close call (an 8-7 win over Honeoye Falls-Lima on May 4), had a more relaxing game at Nottingham High School, where it beat the combined Syracuse City squad in a 13-5 decision.

The Wildcats’ attack was both patient and productive, a rare combination in recent weeks. The production led to a 7-2 halftime edge on a Syracuse side that carried a 10-4 record, and WG would pull further away in the second half.

Hildebrandt and Grace Osterdale led the way, each getting two goals and three assists. Michaela Ciciarelli had a three-goal hat trick, while Collins managed a pair of goals. Jackie Pardee and Mia DiBello each had one goal and one assist as Vicki Graveline and Jamie Martin also scored, with Elmer and Mary Maestri earning assists.

WG closes its regular season Tuesday night, hosting Auburn, and would find out two days later where it would start the Section III playoffs.