No one could pretend that the circumstances of the West Genesee girls lacrosse team’s trip to Fayetteville-Manlius last Tuesday afternoon were similar to that of last year’s Section III Class A final.
So the Wildcats’ 13-4 victory over the Hornets was far from an act of revenge. Rather, it served as a stark reminder to all future foes that, even without a key part of its lethal formula, WG could still dominate.
In the week between the Wildcats’ win over Baldwinsville on April 3 and its trip to F-M, senior forward Sarah Kuonen got injured. It isn’t expected to keep her out for long, but rather than aggravate the injury so early in the season, she would miss this reunion with the Hornets.
Of course, this was a far different F-M squad. Kathy Taylor had been replaced as head coach by Adair Milmoe, and Kristen Taylor wasn’t around anymore to break WG’s hearts, as she had done in that sectional final more than 10 months ago.
Still, WG did not take the affair lightly, and had even more reason for concern after Katie Bonsted scored 3:21 into the game to put F-M in front, 1-0.
That would be the Hornets’ last lead. Colleen Bubnack answered with a goal less than two minutes later, and when Lauren Burgoon and Bubnack scored twice in a span of 34 seconds, WG went up for good.
From that point forward, the only time the Wildcats had any crisis was when, up 5-1, it allowed two goals late in the first half to make it 5-3, prompting a quick time-out.
Like any great team, WG answered with some authority. Chrissie Hanley applied it, scoring with 1:57 left in the half, and her perfect feed to Bekah Elmer for another goal just before the half made it 7-3.
From there, the Wildcats’ defense took over, not allowing a goal over the game’s final 22-plus minutes as it went on a 6-0 run. It also dominated the ground balls, picking up 23 to the Hornets’ 11, so F-M rarely had possession when it needed to.
Also, WG’s depth assured that Kuonen would not be missed much. Bubnack and Kiersten Tupper each had three-goal hat tricks, with Elmer adding two goals and one assist. Burgoon, Hanley, Lauren Welch, Courtney Clare and Amanda Cizenski each took turns with single goals.
These two rivals will meet again May 8, in Camillus. In the meantime, WG will seek more conquests Friday, in Pennsylvania, when it meets St. Mary’s.
