True, the gap between the West Genesee girls lacrosse team and Baldwinsville, its primary chaser among the Section III Class A challengers, may have decreased in the month since their April 5 encounter.
But the state no. 1-ranked Wildcats are still out in front, as it proved again Thursday afternoon when it went to B’ville and, led by Katey Hart’s four goals and four assists, powered its way to a 12-8 victory over the Bees.
The first game had gone 17-11 in WG’s favor as it led by as much as 10 in the second half before the Bees made a late charge. The rematch took place at Ray Middle School, on a grass field in superior condition to the one at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium that has taken in nearly a foot of rain in the last month.
Immediately, this encounter was different, as B’ville went ahead 2-0 on two goals from Claire Monnat 11 seconds apart. WG settled down, though, as Erica Geremia earned three goals as part of a 6-0 run that stretched deep into the first half. WG held the Bees without a goal for more than 18 minutes as, among other things, defenders Erica Anderson and Shelby Milne took timely charges in front of the net.
B’ville would not get blown out here, though, battling back in the late stages of the half. When Maggie Monnat beat Libby Byrne on a free-position shot at the horn, the Bees had closed within 7-5 at they went to halftime.
Again, the Wildcats’ defense got tested as B’ville held the ball for the first seven-plus minutes of the second half. However, the Bees only got one goal in that sequence, missing several chances to tie the game.
Now Hart would take over, setting up Julie Dussing’s goal before converting herself with 12:12 left. Just a minute later, B’ville picked up its third yellow card, meaning that (thanks to a new rule in the 2011 season) it would spend the rest of the game one player down.
And the Wildcats took full advantage, doubling its margin down the stretch. Geremia earned her fourth goal and Hart would convert twice, the last of those goals clinching the outcome with 4:06 left. Rachel Watkins had five saves in the second half as Emily Tripodi amassed two goals and four assists.
