So many times over the years, West Genesee’s boys lacrosse team would thwart Auburn, and Tuesday night’s 14-4 victory at Holland Stadium was no different.
Except that on this occasion, when the clock struck zero, head coach Mike Messere had 747 career wins and now stood even with Ward Melville’s Joe Cuozzo with the most wins of any high school lacrosse coach in America.
Such a distinction will not last long. Messere could break the record as early as Thursday night, when the Wildcats host Oswego.
First, though, the mark had to be tied. WG, sporting a 6-0 record and no. 3 state Class A ranking, were dealing with an Auburn side that had struggled to a 1-5 start, but always tried to make things difficult for the Wildcats whenever they got together.
WG blanked Auburn in the first quarter, but only sported a 2-0 lead. The Maroons got on the board in the second period, only to see the Wildcats double the margin, to 6-2, as they went to the break.
Led by Kevin Scott, who scored twice, and Aaron Sigona, who recorded 10 saves, Auburn were still within sight until the fourth quarter, when WG, determined to get Messere to the national wins mark, closed with five unanswered goals, four of them in a 91-second span.
Senior Tim Barber led the way throughout the night, scoring five times and adding an assist. Matt Schattner contributed a three-goal hat trick, while Andrew Brown stepped up, too, earning two goals and three assists.
Ryan St. Croix managed two goals and one assist, while Teddy Glesener and Dan Ginestro each had one goal and one assist. R.J. Tinklepaugh picked up two assists and Jake Darrow got an assist, too.
