Even as it absorbed back-to-back defeats to Rush-Henrietta and Canandaigua, the West Genesee girls lacrosse team knew that, with a proper turnaround, it could leave those losses behind.
And the Wildcats almost got that signature win last Tuesday night at Mike Messere, pushing undefeated, state no. 1-ranked Baldwinsville to the wire before the Bees prevailed by a score of 11-10.
B’ville had roared to an 8-0 start, sweeping past local foes, including Fayetteville-Manlius, before two lopsided wins on a trip to Tennessee allowed them to climb to the top of the state rankings
But this lofty position only made the Bees a prime target and WG was ready for them, even as B’ville staked itself to an early 4-1 lead, the lone Wildcats goal coming from Emily Stratton.
Stratton’s second goal, followed by back-to-back tallies by Sophia Scialdone, tied it 4-4, but the Bees answered with a three-goal run of its own to take a 7-4 lead to the break.
The deficit grew to 8-4 early in the second half before WG fought back again, Matisyn Schaut converting three times and then, with the score 9-7, Halen Saroney found the net twice and tied the game 9-9.
So it went into the homestretch, B’ville briefly taking the lead before Stratton converted a third time with 5:19 left. Less than two minutes later, the Bees again went in front and managed to prevent the Wildcats from forcing overtime.
Abby Bednarski, in defeat, made 12 saves. Most of B’ville’s production came from Emma Gebhardt, who had four goals, and Katie Pascale, who got three goals and one assist as Sophia Cavallaro scored twice.
Contrast this battle with what West Genesee’s boys lacrosse team faced at Baldwinsville, these Wildcats overwhelmed from the start on a rainy night as it lost 16-6 to the Bees at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.
Riding a three-game win streak, WG quickly found itself chasing B’ville as it was kept off the board in the first quarter, the deficit growing to 4-0 and continuing to expand even after the Wildcats got on the board in the second quarter.
It was 10-2 by halftime and 12-3 before the third quarter was done, a thorough effort by the Bees as Adam Davis got four goals, with Spencer Wirtheim and Austin Bolton each scoring three times and Wirtheim adding three assists.
Only Max Rosa scored twice for the Wildcats, with Anthony Dattellas getting a goal and two assists. Alex Rosa had one goal and one assist as Jack Delaney and Nick Louise had the other goals.
WG now had some urgency going into Thursday’s home game against Liverpool, and that translated into a tough effort that resulted in a tense 14-13 victory over the Warriors.
Right from the outset, the pace was torrid, and the Wildcats didn’t shrink from it, grabbing a 5-3 lead before the first quarter was out, but finding itself unable to get away from Liverpool.
By the end of the third period, the two sides were even, 12-12, but it was here that WG’s defense played its best, limiting the Warriors the rest of the way as Luke Staudt upped his total to 19 saves.
In order to win, the Wildcats needed Dattellas to get five goals and two assists, with Brad Cunningham stepping to earn five assists. Cunningham, Max Rosa and Riley Small each had two goals, with Liam Sexton and Alex Rosa both getting one goal and one assist. Louise also found the net.
The WG girls visited Liverpool, and it wasn’t easy for them, either, but here the Wildcats won, too, only getting away in the latter stages of an 11-8 victory over the Warriors.
After giving up the first goal, WG got three in a row from Schaut, Scialdone and Sam Detor, only to get shut out the rest of the first half as Liverpool went on a 4-0 run to lead 5-3 at the break.
Stratton brought the Wildcats back even with a pair of goals early in the second half and WG went on a 6-0 spurt, with Saroney, Schaut, Detor and Courtney Reynolds all finding the net.
Liverpool didn’t quit, pulling back within one, 9-8, with more than a minute to play, but the Wildcats were able to win two late draws, and Saroney and Schaut put in clinching goals.
In Saturday’s snow, the WG boys beat Spencerport 15-9, taking charge with an 8-2 second-quarter push. Dattellas and Max Rosa both had four goals, with Sheehan getting three goals and two assists. Alex Rosa had a goal and two assists, with Sexton and Louise both getting one goal and one assist.
