Season after season, Marcellus has produced strong girls lacrosse teams and talented individuals who have enjoyed success at the college ranks.
Still, the Mustangs’ search for a Section III championship continues, and in 2015 it will do so in the OHSL Freedom division, a one-year shift due to an enrollment bump.
Marcellus got going again last Tuesday night, when it visited East Syracuse Minoa and got stronger as the game went on, eventually pulling away to beat the Spartans 13-6.
Other than Kate McGarity and Ashley Scalzo (who had three goals each), no ESM player could put a shot past Mustangs goalie Sarah Annable, who finished with nine saves before Grace Vensel took over in the late going.
Ahead 7-4 at halftime, the Mustangs more than doubled that margin in the second half with a more diverse attack, led by Maddie Conklin, who piled up four goals and four assists, and Ally Burrows, who scored five times.
Keelin Kelly had two goals and one assist, with Audrey Cerrone also finding the net twice. Colette Rigas, Abby Vetsch and Katherine Locastro picked up one assist apiece.
Back home two nights later, the Mustangs faced Homer, and a milestone was reached by Cerrone as Marcellus handled the Trojans in a 17-8 decision.
Gradually, Marcellus wore Homer down, more than doubling its 9-5 halftime lead as Cerrone, who scored three times, reached 100 career goals.
Conklin remained on fire, her six goals and two assists giving her 10 goals and six assists for the week. Burrows finished with four goals and one assist, with Kelly finding the net twice. Rigas had a goal and two assists as Vetsch nabbed the other goal.
Meanwhile, with plenty of its own ambition heading into 2015, Bishop Ludden/Bishop Grimes, who faces defending state Class C champion Skaneateles late this week, opened last Tuesday with a lopsided 14-1 victory over the combined Syracuse city squad.
Not allowing a goal in the first half, Ludden/Grimes streaked out to a 9-0 lead, and kept adding to it, even with a running clock and the fact that Syracuse broke up the shutout in the late going.
Teresa Shattuck set the pace with four goals and five assists. Her passes went to a quartet of teammates – Kellie Byrne, Katy McInerney, Jenn Vazquez and Sidney Dobbins, each of whom finished with a pair of goals.
Westhill, who had lost a close season opener to Marcellus March 28, rebounded in a big way on Thursday night, dominating the second half to rout Cortland 17-5.
Shea Swartout’s three goals helped the Purple Tigers stay within range, only trailing 6-4 at halftime, but after that the Warriors controlled the draw circle and turned its frequent possessions into a string of decisive goals.
A trio of players stood at Westhill’s forefront. Shelby Stack backed up her four goals with three assists, while Erin McMullen scored five times, adding an assist, and Haileigh Farrell finished with four goals and two assists.
Lydia Gosson, with a goal and two assists, offered some support, as did Jayanna Monds and Caroline Miller, each with one goal and one assist. McKenzie Hayes added the other goal. Combined, goalies Esther Clifford and Morgan Hayes stopped 13 of the 18 shots they faced.
