If the events of last week could be labeled crises, then the West Genesee girls lacrosse team passed both of them, and may have sent a message to the rest of the Section III Class A ranks that it’s determined to get its crown back.
The Wildcats trailed South Jefferson at halftime, but didn’t fret much about it, instead picking up its pressure on both ends and taking over after intermission on the way to a 13-7 victory over the Spartans.
A week had passed since WG had beaten Rush-Henrietta 11-6 in its March 28 opener, and while that game wasn’t a runaway, the Wildcats also had firm control, something that South Jefferson prevented, at least in the early going.
Led by Mackenzie Alexander, who finished with four goals, and Sydney Roderick, who got a goal and three assists, the Spartans matched WG’s production and took a 5-4 lead to the break, causing a bit of worry.
Soon enough, though, the Wildcats’ pace wore South Jefferson down, and its attack got more productive, again with Mackenzie Baker at the forefront as she delivered four goals and three assists.
Offering support, Julia Williams and Eliza MacCaull each got two goals and one assist, with Elise Mancabelli also scoring twice. Ally Trice and Cecilia Procopio both earned one goal and one assist as Mackenzie Meager gained the other goal.
Then, on Saturday afternoon, it was the Wildcats against Honeoye Falls-Lima, and this game proved even more exciting than the first two, the issue in doubt until WG surged late in the second half and, led by Baker, managed to conquer the Cougars 15-12.
A back-and-forth first half saw the Wildcats trail twice, and come back both times. Ferris and Baker scored after HF-L got on the board first, and with the Cougars up 5-4 later in the half, WG put together a 4-0 run, with Baker getting two of those goals as Macnabelli and Catherine Farrell also found the net.
Still ahead 8-6 at halftime, WG saw that margin vanish early in the second half. H-FL reclaimed the lead twice, at 10-9 and 11-10, but in both instances WG quickly moved back even.
Then, with 13:30 left, Baker, on a free position shot, hit on her seventh goal. An eighth goal followed to make it 13-11, and though HF-L closed the gap to one, 13-12, Mancabelli struck with 2:48 to play to restore a cushion, and Williams clinched it with 17 seconds left.
Mancabelli and Williams both would finish with two goals, while Ferris had one goal and one assist. Farrell had a goal and two assists as MacCaull earned the other goal.
WG would meet its long-time rival, Fayetteville-Manlius, Wednesday night, and then host Skaneateles Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
