Many different angles could be offered in regards to the Jamesville-DeWitt boys lacrosse team’s 10-9 defeat to Niskayuna on the night of May 4.
Maybe it was an indicator that the Red Rams’ state title run might not be as smooth as originally imagined. Or perhaps J-D, while aiming to beat the Silver Warriors, could let go of the outcome knowing a possible rematch in the state finals would carry far more weight.
What was certain was that the Rams’ response to a defeat was quite convincing. Fulton was the next opponent, and the Red Raiders could do nothing to stop J-D’s first-half blitz that led to a 25-1 decision, one of most lopsided in Section III this spring.
Averaging a goal per minute, the Rams already had a 12-0 margin going into the second quarter, and continued to add to it, gaining a 17-0 halftime edge. Only a running clock, and a clearing of the bench to let the reserves see extended minutes, kept it from getting much more lopsided.
Nine different players had multiple points, led again by Jordan Evans, with two goals and five assists, and Griffin Feiner, with five goals and one assist.
Four others – Jeff Edwards, Ryan McKee, Ryan Wright and Zach Hatem – produced three-goal hat tricks. Lucas Phillips had two goals and one assist, with Griffin Johnson managing a goal and two assists. Lucas Johnson, Ryan Durkin and Mike Mulvihill earned one goal apiece.
In Thursday night’s game at Cortland, the Red Rams were steadier in its approach, but reached the same general conclusion as it beat the Purple Tigers 17-6.
It took a 5-0 surge through the second quarter to get J-D clear as it gained an 11-2 hafltime edge, cruising the rest of the way as it showed an encouraging amount of scoring balance.
Wright set the pace with four goals, adding an assist as Evans got three goals and three assists. Feiner had three goals and two assists as Edwards again scored three times, adding one assist. Durkin, Phillips, Mike Engstrom, Ryan McKee and Jamie McBurney each had one goal and one assist as Griffin Johnson also earned a goal.
East Syracuse-Minoa saw its playoff hopes dim further with last Tuesday’s 14-7 defeat to Homer, where no single player was able to consistently solve the Trojans’ defenses.
Tom VanDeusen did score twice for the Spartans, adding an assist, while Dan MacDougall, Dan Lewis, Kollin Diedrickson, Corey Haynes and Nolan Garris each had one goal.
Colton Webb added an assist as Alec Miller picked up 12 saves. Jake Gray and Casey Cleary each had three-goal hat tricks to lead Homer’s push.
Two nights later, ESM did have a bright moment, edging New Hartford 10-8 as it broke out of a 5-5 halftime tie with four unanswered goals in the third quarter, and wouldn’t get caught.
Garris, with three goals and one assist, led the late surge. MacDougall scored twice, while VanDeusen had one goal and one assist. Diedrickson, Patrick Bryant and Andrew Rosso also took turns finding the net as Miller finished with nine saves.
