On so many levels, the girls lacrosse showdown between Christian Brothers Academy and West Genesee, which took place Saturday at Alibrandi Stadium, was compelling.
First, there was simply the notion of two programs with a combined nine state championships (CBA with two, WG with seven) getting together, and both were reigning sectional title-holders interested in adding to their long winning legacies.
Also, there was the added suspense created when West Genesee, earlier in the week, squandered a four-goal second-half lead and lost, 12-11, to Cicero-North Syracuse, its first blemish of the season following a dominant 5-0 start.
Most of all, though, these teams were playing for a good cause. Led by Evie Lopoo, whose brother attends the United States Military Academy at West Point, CBA had created a “Patriot Game”, with all proceeds benefiting a new group called Team RWB.
Standing for Red White and Blue, the Team RWB organization, founded by CBA graduates Mike and Mark Erwin, aims to benefit U.S. military veterans through physical and social activity.
The worthy endeavor demanded a worthy game – and they got it, both teams making comebacks in regulation and through a pair of overtime periods before the Brothers had to settle for a tough 11-10 defeat to the Wildcats.
For a while, the lingering effects of the C-NS loss were evident on WG’s side. Controlling the tempo, CBA led for most of the first half and took a slim 4-3 advantage to the break.
The Wildcats tied it, 4-4, early in the second half, but CBA appeared to retake the lead when Emily Ehle found the net. But then Ehle’s stick was found to be illegal, the goal was disallowed (two other Brothers goals would get disallowed, too) andWildcats grabbed the momentum, establishing a 7-4 lead with three straight goals.
Just as quickly, though, WG went cold, and the Brothers tied it again, 7-7, late in the second half. Neither team scored again until the pair of mandatory three-minute OT periods.
CBA found the net first, but the Wildcats countered as the trio of Kyra Bednardski, Mackenzie Baker and Nicky Delaney all found the net and, through one OT, the Brothers trailed 10-8.
During the second OT, WG goalie Katherine Widrick made a key point-blank stop and Baker scored, assisted by Grace Osterdale. That proved to be the game-winner, since the Brothers notched two goals in the final minute, which wasn’t quite enough.
Ehle (four goals) and Meredith Strott (three goals) led CBA’s attack. Tessa Queri scored twice, while Alexa Radziewicz had one goal and one assist. Adriana Fess and Rachel Ziemba added assists. On WG’s side, Osterdale and Baker finished with three goals apiece,
While West Genesee was stunned by C-NS, CBA, back from its own 0-2 road trip that included losses to Wantagh and Mount Sinai, took out its frustrations on Fulton in a 22-3 romp at Alibrandi Stadium.
Leading 14-0 at halftime, the Brothers saw Ehle and Maddie Cook both produce five goals and two assists. Strott, Sam McKenna and Olivia Penoyer had two goals apiece, with Rachel Vercillo getting a goal and two assists. Ziemba also had two assists as Queri, Morgan Riley, Lilly Hunt and Claire Jeschke managed single tallies.
Then the Brothers bashed East Syracuse Minoa in a similar manner Thursday night, winning 21-3 as it only surrendered single goals to the Spartans’ trio of Janee DeLuca, Brigid McGinley and Cindy Brownson, and produced a lot more in response.
Ehle, with four goals and one assist, led another well-balanced effort. Strott and Queri each scored three times, with Cook and Amanda Fess getting two goals apiece. Penoyer got one goal and two assists as McKenna, Anderson, Vercillo, Ziemba, Grace Huslander and Alexandria Fess notched single goals. Hunt and Lopoo tacked on assists.
