After plunging to the depths of its injury situation, the West Genesee boys lacrosse team began to welcome back key players into the fold and won a pair of games along the way — but the good feelings did not last for long.
On a warm, windy Saturday afternoon in Camillus, the Wildcats again ran into trouble against Saint Albans, from Washington, D.C., and took a 6-4 defeat to the Bulldogs.
As has been the case for much of the season, WG (still without Ryan Barber, Mike Fetterly or Jordan Rogers on the attack) struggled on the offensive side — and just like at Baldwinsville 12 days before, paid the price with a rare defeat.
Saint Albans got through an active first quarter and took a 3-2 lead. Neither side scored again until the third period, when an exchange of goals still left the Wildcats staring at a 4-3 deficit with one quarter to play.
WG did catch up, only to see the Bulldogs regain control down the stretch and seal it when Bobby Kingsley became the sixth different Saint Albans player to score late in the fourth quarter.
Steve Mahle did well turning away the Bulldogs much of the afternoon, finishing with 14 saves. Matt Lebduska had two of WG’s four goals, with Garrett Ryan, Luke Cometti and Matt McCabe also scoring.
Earlier in the week, Tim Besio returned from his brief injury absence, and he enjoyed a solid showing last Tuesday night as the Wildcats beat Nottingham 16-4.
In the first quarter alone, WG scored eight times, as much as it got in two combined games against B’ville and Corcoran the week before. Eventually, the margin grew to 15-4 by the end of the third period.
Besio was one of six Wildcat players to score twice, along with Ryan, Cometti, Ryan McConnell, John Glesener and McCabe. Lebduska earned three goals and one assist, as Cometti added three assists and Ryan got two assists. Owen Alberts had one goal and one assist.
Two nights later, the Wildcats visited Oswego and continued to recuperate, as a quick start led to an 11-5 victory over the Buccaneers.
Playing as well as it has at the start of any game this season, WG roared out to a 5-0 first-quarter edge. Steadily, the margin grew in the middle stages, but Oswego never recovered from that initial surge.
Glesener put up a three-goal hat trick, adding an assist. Besio and Lebduska each scored twice, while Cometti, Ryan, McConnell and Rogers each had one goal. McCabe helped out with two assists. Steve Mahle, in goal, recorded 12 saves.
Rogers injured his hip in this game, and missed the loss to Saint Albans. His return is in question as WG (9-2) hosts Auburn (8-2) Tuesday night, perhaps the Maroons’ best chance to get its first-ever win over the Wildcats after 48 straight defeats. WG is also set to visit Central Square on Friday night.
