Though it was just a single blemish, the Westhill boys lacrosse team’s April 27 loss to Christian Brothers Academy meant that it would have to surrender the top spot in the state Class D rankings that it held for three weeks.
Still, the Warriors were at no. 3, one spot ahead of the no. 4-ranked Brothers, and after a few days to refresh itself and regroup, Westhill was clinical in its next game against Chittneango, burying the Bears early in a 19-3 romp.
Nearly averaging a goal per minute, the Warriors led 11-1 at the end of that opening frame, and the margin grew to 17-1 by halftime before all of the starters exited. By then, Casey Rogers, Jack Miller and Luke McAnaney each had netted four goals, with Rogers adding a pair of assists.
Charlie Bolesh had a career-best five assists to go with two goals. Braeden Elmer also scored twice, with Owen Matukas had one goal and one assist. Ty Wollen and Chris Holt added goals as Andrew Hodgens, Jack Grooms and defender Jack Gilmartin earned assists.
Now Westhill looked forward to Thursday’s game against struggling Marcellus, and the Warriors continued the Mustangs’ slide with a 14-5 victory, one notable for the fact that, for most of the game, it was an even battle.
Adimrably, Marcellus contained Westhill and only trailed by two, 5-3, at halftime, but any possible suspense got erased when the Warriors dominated face-offs in the third quarter and turned all of that extra possession time into nine unanswered goals.
Bolesh, with four goals and one assist, and Rogers, with three goals and two assists, led that push, with Elmer adding two goals and two assists. Miller and McAnaney both had one goal and three assists as Matukas got a goal and two assists. Grooms and Owen Rodgers had the other goals.
Two days earlier, Marcellus had lost, 5-4, at Cazenovia, a game where its defense was the main story, Cazenovia shutting out the Mustangs during the first half while building a 4-0 lead.
Still trailing 5-1 going into the fourth quarter, Marcellus converted three times and nearly caught up as Gabe Van Order had two goals, with Liam Tierney and Matt Reich also finding the net. Shane Rohe had two assists as Nate Garlow and Emmitt Barry also earned assists.
Despite this, and despite Dan Cusick’s 12 saves, Cazenovia held on. Cole Basic, with two goals and one assist, and Will Shepard, with a goal and two assists, led the modest Lakers attack. Alex Nowak and Tim Burr had the other goals,
Though it only played once last week, Jordan-Elbridge made it count, defeating South Jefferson 16-5 last Saturday as it built upon an early 3-0 lead by outscoring the Spartans 12-1 over the course of the next two periods to improve its overall record to 8-4.
Hunter Brunelle led with five goals and one assist. Colby Falcone scored four times, adding an assist as Dale Wagner got three goals and two assists. Dylan Dunham had two goals and two assists as Evan Brunelle contributed four assists, joining Jacob Schwarting with one goal apiece.
Bishop Ludden lost last Wednesday to Chenango Valley (Section IV) 12-8, with neither side able to make any headway until the third quarter, when CV outscored the Gaelic Knights 5-3 to break out of a 5-5 halftime tie.
Dom Delvecchio and Bailey Martin both had two goals and two assists, while Matt Delaney had two goals and one assist. Ethan Gentile also scored twice as Zach Delaney got two assists and Mac Mulhern one assist. Goalie Chris Hurley made eight saves.
A 13-7 defeat to Oswego followed on Friday, and again things turned against Ludden late, the Buccaneers outscoring the Gaelic Knights 6-2 in the last two quarters.
Eight different Oswego players scored, led by Trey Clark, who had three goals and two assists. On the Gaelic Knights’ side, only Martin and Zach Delaney scored twice, with Delvecchio getting a goal and two assists. Mulhern and Mack McCurn also earned goals.
