Back-to-back wins prior to the holiday break had the West Genesee ice hockey team in a better mood, but far from content as it attempted to get back above the .500 mark.
The Wildcats were 3-3-1 going into its Dec. 27 game at Saratoga Springs, but even though it kept the game close all the way through, WG still lost, 4-3, to the Section II Blue Streaks.
Each of the first two periods featured exchanges of goals. WG found the net in the third period, too, but Saratoga scored twice, inched out in front and would stay there, overcoming Wildcats goalie Nick Skidmore’s 21 saves.
Ryan McDonald carried WG’s attack, scoring two of the three goals and assisting on the other, by David Procopio. Marshall Winn, Steve Anderson and Ryan Smith also earned assists.
Back at Shove Park last Tuesday night, the Wildcats faced Canton (Section X) in its last contest of 2014, and the frustrations continued as WG earned a shutout, but still ended in a 0-0 tie.
All through 45 minutes of regulation, plus five minutes of overtime, the Wildcats had chances, and saw every one of those chances turned back. This negated a tremendous defensive performance anchored by Sammy Colabufo, who took his turn in goal and, earning his first varsity shutout, stopped all 20 shots he faced.
Another non-league game would take place Saturday, with WG facing Pittsford, from Section V and the Rochester suburbs, and the Wildcats found its offense again, climbing back into the win column with a much-needed 5-3 victory.
After gaining a 2-1 first-period lead, WG withstood all of Pittsford’s attempts to pull even during a scoreless second period, and then unleashed its attack in the latter stages, scoring three times in the final period to get away.
Anderson, with two goals and one assist, and McDonald, with a goal and two assists, led the attack, with Patrick Ciarla adding a pair of assists. Procopio and Jay Considine also found the net, with Conor Bartlett joining Procopio in the assist column and Nick Skidmore recording 15 saves.
SO WG hit the midway point of the regular season still at .500 (4-4-2), but after playing Mohawk Valley on Monday, it gets a chance to make a large impression when state Division I no. 4-ranked Baldwinsville visits Shove Park Friday night for its lone regular-season meeting with the Wildcats.
