Maybe now it’s time to place the Westhill boys lacrosse team firmly among the ranks of major Section III Class C title contenders.
Putting together one of its best all-around efforts of the season, the Warriors went to Cazenovia last Thursday afternoon and had everything in proper function during an 11-5 victory over the Lakers.
Cazenovia came in with an 8-3 record, plus home-field advantage, which offered no hint of the trouble Westhill would give them.
Even when the Warriors’ attack slumped a bit in the second quarter, the defense blanked the Lakers, preserving a 4-2 edge going to halftime.
Westhill outscored Cazenovia in every period, pushed there on the offensive side by Dan Eipp and Tim Burgess, who had four goals apiece, often fed by Tris Nicola, who had three assists. Kyle Nicholas scored twice as John Zimmerman added one goal and Dylan Tripodi got an assist.
On the other end, Westhill’s defense was forced to do lots of work, which made goalie Mark McAnaney even more valuable as he constantly frustrated the Lakers, stopping 20 of the 25 shots he faced.
Two days before going to Cazenovia, the Warriors hosted Onondaga and had little trouble dispatching the Tigers in an 18-3 rout.
Leading from the start, Westhill maintained steady production all night. Five unanswered goals in the second period created a 9-1 halftime margin, and it just kept growing.
Eipp piled up four goals and four assists to lead the way, as Nicholas got two goals and four assists. Nicola scored three times, adding an assist, while Burgess and Zimmerman each matched Nicholas with two-goal outings. Tripodi put up a goal and two assists as Sal Valenti, Marshall Kise, Kevin Wilson and Alex Lesins also scored.