Decades of reign as Central New York’s top boys lacrosse program has not softened West Genesee one bit. Nor has winning 10 consecutive Section III Class A titles.
As always, head coach Mike Messere’s Wildcats are after more, and the latest quest for glory commenced Saturday with a 9-6 victory over Pittsford at Wildcat Stadium.
The challenge, entering 2012, for WG was to replace eight starters, including the entire back line of Pat Brown, John Sabert, J.D. St. Croix and goalie Tim Birchler.
Fortunately, the new starter in goal, senior Scott Sidnam, had seen starts and minutes in 2010 and 2011, and the chance to play in the net again and help a new starting unit, consisting of Andrew Dietz, Garrett Waldron and Jake Sutherland, ease into their responsibilities.
Where WG is strongest, though, is in the middle. Tim Barber, Matt Schattner, Teddy Glesener, Dan Ginestro and R.J. Tinkpleaugh form an impressive group of midfielders, and they wasted little time getting into high gear against Pittsford.
Schattner scored on his team’s first shot, just 17 seconds in, and added another goal after Jake Darrow converted. Glesener followed with a goal, and when Barber converted off a fast break started by a long Sidnam pass, WG had a 5-0 lead and the game was just seven minutes old.
From that point on, Pittsford settled down, but every time it got a close look at the net, Sidnam snared it, a series of point-blank stops (he had 12 saves overall) that secured the Wildcats’ margin of 6-1 going into halftime.
Barber and Ryan St. Croix scored 37 seconds apart early in the third quarter, expanding the lead to 8-1. From there, the Wildcats would slow down on the offensive end, but Sidnam continued to make big saves, allowing for a comfortable margin until Pittsford made a late push, scoring twice in the game’s final minute to make it a bit closer.
WG will meet another tough Section V foe, going to Penfield on Wednesday, before next Saturday’s home clash with long-time rival Fayetteville-Manlius, which starts at 1 p.m.
