If ever the West Genesee boys lacrosse team needed any reason to focus again once the hype over Mike Messere’s national wins record died down, a third straight loss to Jamesville-DeWitt on April 21 provided the tonic.
This was the Wildcats’ first blemish of the season after a 9-0 start, and a reminder that much more work remained, especially with crucial regular-season showdowns with the other Class A favorites, Fayetteville-Manlius and Liverpool, looming early in May.
Before all that, though, the Wildcats first had to show it could rebound from a loss. And while it was far from pretty in last Tuesday night’s visit to Cicero-North Syracuse, WG gladly accepted the result, beating the Northstars 6-1.
C-NS carried a 5-3 mark, and the extra motivation provided by the fact that its head coach, Bill Aldrich, played under Messere and knew most of the tricks of the master.
The first half turned into an odd stalemate. The opening period went 0-0, and it wasn’t much faster in the second quarter, either. Matt Kennedy matching a Wildcat tally to create a 1-1 draw as the two sides went to the break.
Tired of all this, WG broke out for the only time in the third quarter. Led by Teddy Glesener and Dan Ginestro, the Wildcats put together a decisive 5-0 run.
All told, Glesener had three goals and one assist, while Ginestro found the net twice. Matt Schattner chimed in with a goal and two assists, with Tim Barber dishing out three assists.
Only Bryan Schenk’s 17 saves kept C-NS within range, but the Wildcats’ defense was tight and effective throughout the game, Scott Sidnam turning away 11 of 12 shots.
By the time it returned home Thursday night to face the combined Syracuse East (Henninger-Nottingham) squad, the Wildcats were eager to reclaim its offensive rhythm, and did so easily in a 22-2 romp.
As if a 5-1 lead wasn’t enough, WG blitzed Syracuse East for 11 goals in the second quarter, good for a 16-2 edge. Schattner, with four goals and one assist, and Ryan St. Croix, with three goals, led that charge.
In support, R.J. Tinklepaugh, Andrew Brown and Adam Higginbotham each had two goals and one assist, with Andrew Brown also scoring twice. Glesener managed a goal and assist, as did Brady Hoose, while Mark Niechical got his own goal.
Now all energy turned toward Tuesday night’s rematch with F-M, whom the Wildcats beat 7-5 at home on April 7. This would take place on the Hornets’ new artificial turf field, where it had not yet lost a game.
