In the last full week of their regular seasons, the Westhill and Marcellus girls lacrosse teams did not want to make any slips as the Section III playoffs loomed.
However, the state Class D no. 4-ranked Warriors could not quite pull off a surprise last Tuesday night as it went to Alibrandi Stadium and took an 11-6 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy.
This game brought Westhill head coach Brittany Brigandi back to her alma mater, and the Warriors played a superb first half on both ends, controlling the tempo and building a 4-2 lead.
Once CBA started winning draws, though, it proved too difficult for Westhill to contain as it roared in front behind four-goal outings by Anna Ziemba and Olivia Penoyer, Ziemba adding a pair of assists as she made the Warriors pay for the defensive attention given to the likes of Claire Jeschke and Grace Hulslander.
Three of Westhill’s six goals went to Rebecca Gilhooley, who added an assist. Katelyn Karleski scored twice and Maura McAnaney added a goal, but CBA netminder Iris Vinal stopped 10 of Westhill’s 16 shots.
That same night, state Class D no. 11-ranked Marcellus was at home, honoring its seniors and improving its record to 11-3 with relative ease, handling the Homer Trojans 20-5.
A 15-goal first half saw Marcellus pour through Homer’s defenses, with Katherine Locastro particularly tough to contain as she earned a career-best seven assists to go with three goals.
Grace Coon got five goals and one assist, with Lily Powell scoring four times. Anna Vetsch had two goals and three assists as Taylor Reich and Madison Green also had two-goal outings. Sarah Hutchings and Katy Wangsness had the other goals.
When Westhill played Homer on Thursday, it was closer, but the Warriors topped the Trojans 13-7 as Caroline Miller notched four goals and two assists, with Gilhooley (three goals, one assist) and Karleski (two goals, two assists) close behind. Maura McAnaney and Kendra MacCaull had the other goals.
Two days later, Westhill took out Bishop Ludden/Bishop Grimes/Onondaga 25-4, with giant point totals as Gilhooley had seven goals and three assists, with Geer getting six goals and three assists as Miller had four goals and four assists.
Katherine McPeak had a three-goal hat trick of her own, with McAnaney getting a goal and two assists. Emma Driscoll had three of Luddden/Grimes/OCS’s goals and assisted on the other, by Rhonee Shea Pal.
Marcellus again won big on Saturday, routing Chittenango 18-1. Vetsch, with five goals and two assists, led the way as Green scored three times and Coon had two goals and three assists. Wangsness added two goals and two assists as Powell and Kaleigh Kemp also had two-goal outings. Katherine Locastro earned a goal and two assists as single goals went to Natalie Clere and Kenai Cameron.
Grimes/Ludden/OCS got its own lopsided 19-3 victory over Mexico last Monday night. Driscoll, with five goals and three assists, led the way as Alyssa Myer got four goals and one assist. Hannah Roesch scored three times, tacking on a pair of assists.
Just behind them, Gabby Oswald, Emily Monroe and Maria Cox had two-goal outings, with Julia Wachna getting one goal and one assist. Juliana Canetsrare also had an assist.
On Wednesday, Ludden/Grimes/OCS fell 19-4 to Skaneateles. All of the goals were in the first half – two by Driscoll, one each by Oswald and Katie Costello – as Riley Brogan (five goals), Olivia Navaroli and Grace Dower (two goals each) led the Lakers.
Jordan-Elbridge was overwhelmed last Monday in a 19-8 defeat to Tully, this despite four goals from Allison Jennings as Alexis Braun and Gabby Gunnip both scored twice, with Katie Goodrich adding two assists.
The Black Knights were consistent, leading 9-4 by halftime and not letting up. Allison Carr had five goals to pace Tully as Gemma Guy got four goals and Gabby Doody had three goals, each adding an assist.
Then J-E took its turn against Mexico Wednesday and won 14-8, Goodrich getting four goals and one assist as Jennings scored three times, plus an assist. Braun, Gunnip and Chelsea Curtis each got two goals as Braun managed three assists and Makayla Castaldo contributed a goal.
A third game in four days saw J-E outscored 21-18 by LaFayette, who saw Charlotte Ryan pick up 10 goals and Mya DeJoseph earn seven goals, the passes coming from Carha Williams, who had six assists.
The Eagles lost despite 10 points from Goodrich, who amassed four goals and six assists. Jennings scored five times and Gunnip also had four goals, with Titus and Braun each netting a pair of goals and Castaldo also converting.
J-E made up a game postponed in late April against Liverpool and lost to the Warriors 23-5. Jennings finished with four goals and Goodrich had the other, Liverpool led by Brittany Halpin and Bella Brancato, who each had four goals.
