Maybe the only way for the West Genesee boys lacrosse team to get stopped in 2011 is to present them with a mirror image – especially someone that can dominate on the defensive side.
That’s what Jamesville-DeWitt offered up on Saturday afternoon, the Red Rams overcoming some minor inconveniences to beat the Wildcats 5-3 to extend its win streak to 28 games and offer, for a moment, a compelling argument to be Central New York’s best team.
Both teams arrived at this showdown undefeated – WG at 8-0, J-D at 7-0. Furthermore, the Rams are the defending state Class B champions, atop the current state rankings and winners of two of the last four state crowns, coach Jamie Archer assembling a dynasty similar to Mike Messere’s long-established program in Camillus.
Still, the Rams had reason to be wary of this game, not just because of WG’s own fearsome reputation. Originally, they were supposed to play at J-D’s grass field, but poor conditions shifted the game to the Wildcats’ home turf. To make things worse, bus problems left J-D more than half an hour late.
All those omens pointed to a good day for the home team in blue and gold – yet by the time the first quarter was done, WG was down 3-1, and the deficit grew to 4-1 by halftime.
Dylan Donahue had that lone goal in the first quarter – and would earn nothing more the rest of the day. He, along with all of the Wildcats’ attackers, found out first-hand just how good the Rams’ defense could perform.
Whether it was sophomore Scott Firman shadowing Donahue, or fellow back-line players Nick Firman and Davi Sacco keeping eye on the rest of the front line, or goalie Dan DiStefano turning shots away (he finished with eight saves), WG went nearly two full periods without a goal, deep into the second half.
Meanwhile, sophomore Jordan Evans, playing despite swelling in his knee, got two goals to key J-D’s decisive push, with Tim Edwards, Alex Hatem and McLaren Brady also finding the net to overcome Tim Birchler’s eight saves.
Pat Brown, who along with fellow defenders John Sabert and Ryan St. Croix did a nice job of containment in the second half, did score a goal in the second half, as did Matt Schattner, and Connor Khammar added an assist, but it was not enough.
Now the Wildcats will see how it reacts to a defeat when, on Wednesday night, it visits Corcoran (8-1), the same team it crushed 17-2 at home back on April 1. WG is back home Friday night to face Cicero-North Syracuse.
