When the Marcellus and Westhill girls lacrosse teams meet up again Tuesday night, a big prize – namely, a trip to the Section III Class C semifinals – is at stake.
Given the no. 4 seed in the 13-team sectional bracket, the Mustangs met no. 13 seed Vernon-Verona-Sherrill in Friday night’s opening round and controlled matters from start to finish, pulling away to beat the Red Devils 20-7.
Yet even that didn’t compare to what no. 5 seed Westhill did in its sectional opener against no. 12 seed Clinton, nearly pulling off a shutout in a 20-1 wipeout of those other Warriors.
Compared to Marcellus, VVS is a relatively new varsity program, but already has done enough to merit a post-season invitation. Still, the Mustangs, far more seasoned and far more battle-tested, would handle matters.
Leading 12-3 by halftime, Marcellus continued to pull away, even with a running clock, as Maddie Conklin anchored the attack, recording a season-best eight assists to go with a pair of goals.
Often, Conklin’s passes went to Audrey Cerrone, who had six goals and one assist, or Ally Burrows, who scored five times, but Abby Vetsch also stepped up, having the best game of her varsity career by piecing together three goals and five assists.
Keelin Kelly found the net twice, while Grace Coon earned a single goal. Colette Rigas got two assists as Katherine LoCastro and Gianna Dixe also earned assists.
And now Marcellus would draw Westhill, a team It beat 15-11 earlier this month to give head coach Dick Lundblad his 200th career win.
For its playoff opener, Westhill drew a Clinton side that had gone 9-7 during the regular season, but quickly found itself in big trouble here.
Relentlessly attacking and converting off of those chances, Westhill only surrendered a Louisa Gale goal in the first half, and that got quickly forgotten, the margin growing to 13-1 as they reached the half.
Eleven different Westhill players would earn a goal in a well-balanced effort that saw Shelby Stack, Erin McMullen and Haileigh Farrell each score three times, Stack adding a pair of assists.
Natalie Jetter had two goals and two assists, with Abby Stack and Lydia Gosson each producing two goals and one assist. Jayanna Monds, Dana Radin, Paige Gacek, McKenzie Hayes and Liz McAnaney earned single goals. Caroline Miller got credit for an assist.
A day later, Bishop Ludden-Bishop Grimes, the no. 9 seed, hoped to earn a spot against top seed and defending state champion Sknaeateles in the quarterfinals, only to drop its opening-round game to no. 8 seed Homer 12-6.
The first half proved decisive, with the Trojans gaining a 6-3 edge, and then using its defense to make sure no one on Ludden-Grimes, other than Teresa Shattuck (four goals), hurt them, as Jennifer Vazquez and Kellie Byrne managed one goal apiece.
Camile O’Kane played in goal, earning six saves, but saw Homer get six goals from Olivia Porter as the Trojans advanced to face Skaneateles and Ludden-Grimes finished its season with a 9-8 record.
