With April winding down, it was important for the Marcellus boys lacrosse team to stock up victories so that it didn’t have to worry about post-season qualification in the month of May.
The Mustangs breezed through last Monday’s game at Manlius-Pebble Hill, taming the Trojans 17-1 as it didn’t allow a goal after the first quarter and used everyone on the roster.
Connor Wheeler, in particular, lit it up with six goals and one assist. David Lilly and Tom McNaney offered the most support, each with two goals and two assists.
Kevin Hutchings and Ben Powers also scored twice, with John Dunn, Rich Ghezzi and Dalton Wenzel each scoring one goal. Morgan Reilly and Mike McNaney joined Hutchings and Dunn in the assist column.
Two days later, the Mustangs were just as efficient downing Onondaga 11-5. From a 2-2 tie, the Mustangs took over in the middle stages, outscoring the Tigers 8-1 in the second and third periods and effectively spreading its production around.
Wheeler, with three goals and one assist, and Tom McNaney, with a goal and three assists, led the push. Powers again had two goals, with Reilly, Wenzel, Hutchings and Ryeland Hourigan adding single goals. Mike McNaney contributed a goal and two assists.
To cap off this undefeated week, Marcellus (6-5) crushed Bishop Ludden 21-0 on Friday, bolting to a 16-0 halftime lead as Lilly led with five goals and one assist.
Tom McNaney picked up three goals and four assists, while Mike McNaney had three goals and two assists and Dunn also scored three times. Wenzel got two goals as Hutchings, Ghezzi, Hourigan and Colin Cusick added goals.
Meanwhile, Westhill, who was once 4-0, suffered its third straight defeat last Tuesday, falling in a close 9-7 decision to LaFayette.
The Warriors appeared to take control in the second quarter, outscoring the Lancers 3-1 and seizing a 5-3 lead. But LaFayette caught up, 7-7, by the end of the third quarter and blanked Westhill the rest of the way.
Before those late struggles, Austin Webb had put in three goals. Jack Centore scored twice, adding an assist, while Ryan Suddaby had one goal and one assist.
Mark Purcell also found the net as Owen Nicola got two assists. Luke Longo and Richie Easterly also gained assists. In goal, Bryan Schenk picked up 17 saves. Eric Liddy (three goals) and Louie Geswaldo (one goal, three assists) led LaFayette’s effort.
The skid ended 24 hours later when Westhill took out Tully 14-7. Steadily, the Warriors built a 9-3 margin by halftime and went through a third-quarter drought before closing the game on a 5-1 run.
Nicola and Suddaby both had three goals and one assist, with Webb adding two goals and two assists. Easterly and Longo also scored twice, with Centore contributing one goal and two assists. Jack Powers had the other goal.
Jordan-Elbridge’s week started with a 16-7 defeat to Homer last Monday afternoon, a game where the Trojans quickly took control and led 9-3 by halftime.
Cody Lewis still had a goal and three assists, while Aurie Schwarting and Gale Thorpe both scored twice. Zach Wagner and Mike McDonald got single goals. Noland Michaels had 17 saves as Aaron Zimmerman paced Homer with five goals.
Bishop Ludden got overwhelmed in losses to CBA (19-1) and Skaneateles (18-0) on back-to-back days and followed that up with a 15-2 defeat to defending state Class C champion Cazenovia. Steve King and Brian Cizenski had fourth-quarter goals to break up the shutout.
