Even with a six-game win streak, the Fayetteville-Manlius boys lacrosse team knew how big the challenge was at West Genesee last Thursday night, for reasons beyond the quality of the opposition or the fact that it was Senior Night.
The Wildcats were determined not to let the Hornets spoil head coach Mike Messere’s final home game on the field named in his honor, and despite a strong, all-out effort by F-M, that’s what happened.
Still, the 9-8 defeat that the Hornets took provided a lot of encouragement, plus a clear indication that much had changed since F-M lost the first meeting with the Wildcats 10-6 on April 24.
This improvement by the Hornets, combined with all the hoopla surrounding the farewells to Messere and his long-time assistant coach, Bob Deegan, and the festivities of Senior Night, and F-M had an opportunity that it didn’t waste.
The Hornets jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals by Tommy Farry and Will Gottheald, and even when Jack Howes got the Wildcats on the board, it found itself hurt by a rash of turnovers, penalties and other mental mistakes, allowing the Hornets to extend its margin to 5-1 midway through the second quarter, Gottheld adding a second goal and Nick Papa scoring twice.
WG’s turnaround started with Max Rosa’s goal 13.9 seconds before halftime. Then it made a third-quarter charge centered around Kevin Sheehan, who twice assisted on goals by Howe before hitting back-to-back goals 38 seconds apart to give the Wildcats its first lead, 6-5.
But the Hornets absorbed all this and, 90 seconds later, tied it on Zack Nestor’s goal. Then it reclaimed the lead 7-6 when Papa hit on his third goal less than a minute into the final period.
Less than three minutes later, Howes, with his fourth goal, tied it again, with Kevin Sheehan feeding his brother, Ryan, for the go-ahead goal, only to have Jack Shanley pull the Hornets even at 8-8 with 4:46 left.
Catalysts throughout the game, the Sheehan brothers made one more big play. Seconds after Ryan ringed one off the post, Kevin picked up the rebound and, with 3:08 to play, put in the go-ahead goal.
Fittingly, it came down to the Wildcats’ defense, long a staple of Messere teams, making one more stop. iin the final minute where goalie Luke Satudt picked off Papa’s pass attempt and the Wildcats cleared it out.
F-M did not trip in the lead-up to West Genesee, going to Corcoran High School last Tuesday and cruising past the Syracuse Cougars 15-7 for its sixth victory in an 11-day span.
Only up 5-3 at halftime, the Hornets got away thanks to Chris Lubrino’s four goals and two assists as Papa, Farry and Shanley each scored three times. Carson Yancey and Zach Van Valkenburgh also had goals as Brandon Leuze and Mike Howe earned one assist apiece.
Right after the West Genesee game, F-M was at home Saturday and lost, 8-4, to state Class B no. 1-ranked Victor, this after taking a 3-0 first-quarter lead and staying in front until the third quarter.
Victor’s defense contained the Hornets throughout the game’s latter stages, overcoming single goals by Farry, Papa, Shanley and Mikey Porter as Hammond and Jack Van Valkenburgh combined for nine saves.
Meanwhile, the state Class A no. 4-ranked F-M girls lacrosse team was coming off a trio of close losses to Baldwinsville, Liverpool and Pittsford, and was bent on breaking that skid.
The Hornets did so in a tough 12-9 win against Cicero-North Syracuse last Tuesday night at Bragman Stadium. Having already beaten the Northstars in April, F-M found the rematch a bit tougher.
Only ahead by one, 6-5, at halftime, F-M had to battle hard to build a small cushion. Jessica Cramer led the way with four goals and one assist, while Kiera Shanley and Gemma Addonizio each found the net twice.
Katie Shanley added a goal and two assists as Kaylee Steigerwald and Maddie Noel both got one goal and one assist. Ava Angello also had a goal as C-NS’s Jessica Meneilly led all individuals with five goals and goalie Kaitlyn Lippert kept it close, earning 10 saves.
A possible playoff preview was in store Friday when F-M traveled to Holland Stadium to face state no. 11-ranked Auburn, though the Maroons were coming off an 18-10 defeat to Class C contender Fulton.
The Hornets blasted Auburn 15-4, jumping out in front 9-2 by halftime as Cramer scored five times and Katie Shanley had four assists to go with her pair of goals. Kiera Shanley had three goals and one assist as Steigerwald and Addonizio each had two goals and one assist.
