Now, like always, the Marcellus girls lacrosse team would measure itself against its rival and chief nemesis – only in this instance, it stood quite tall.
The Mustangs hosted reigning state Class D champion Skaneateles last Tuesday night, and while Kyla Sears is gone, the Lakers still seemed quite formidable, given that it had started 2-0 and Marcellus was coming off an April 7 loss to Niskayuna.
None of this mattered, though, once the game got underway and the Mustangs, in a manner rarely shown in its two decades of showdowns with Skaneateles, dominated the flow of play and won with ease, prevailing 15-7.
With a potent front line, Marcellus worked the ball around and constantly converted, Grace Coon scoring four times as Anna Vetsch and Sarah Hutchings each got three goals, Vetsch adding an assist.
Lily Powell found the net twice, while Katy Wangsness and Madison Green had one goal apiece. Rebecca Nutting recorded six saves as just three different Skaneateles players would score – Olivia Navaroli with three goals, Grace Dower and Maggie Newton with two goals apiece.
And there wasn’t a letdown, either, as Marcellus rolled past Chenango Valley 18-3 two days later, seeing Katherine Locastro step up for five goals as Powell put up three goals and one assist.
Vetsch and Kenai Cameron had two-goal outings, with Green earning a goal and two assists. Single tallies went to Hutchings, Wangness, Lily Locastro, Kaleigh Kemp and Natalie Clere.
A near-victory at Cicero-North Syracuse on April 3 had not discouraged Westhill, for it went up against Jordan-Elbridge last Monday night and, with a steady effort on both ends, earned a 16-9 victory over the Eagles.
No one on J-E’s defense could stop the Warriors’ Rebecca Gilhooley, who set a career mark with 10 points that included five goals and five assists. Plus, goalies Morgan Elmer and Fran Argentieri combined for 10 saves, two more than Eagles netminder Gabby Skotinski.
Caroline Miller helped out, scoring four times, while Katelyn Karleski and Maura McAnaney had two goals apiece, combining for three assists. Kendra MacCaull had a goal and two assists as Reilly Geer and Katherine McPeak also found the net.
J-E’s Katie Goodrich matched Gilhooley’s five-goal total, but didn’t have any assists and far less support. Gabby Gunnip got two goals as Allison Jennings and Delaney Dunham also converted. Assists went to Alexis Braun, Sophia Titus and Abby Skotinski.
The combined Bishop Ludden/Bishop Grimes/Onondaga team earned its first win last Monday night, at Chittenango, pulling away in the second half to tame the Bears 19-9.
Up 7-4 at halftime, Ludden/Grimes/OCS wore Chittenango down as Emma Driscoll piled up six goals and two assists, but now had ample support in the attack.
Gabby Oswald, Alyssa Myer and Rhonee Shea Pal had three goals apiece, Oswald adding three assists. Emily Monroe had a goal and two assists as Katie Costello also scored. Chenzie Diglio joined Myer and Shea Pal in the assist column.
And when J-E took its turn against Chittenango Thursday night, the Eagles prevailed 14-8, but the margin was a bit deceptive since, during the first half, the Eagles ran over the Bears, establishing an 11-0 lead.
Though it eased up late, J-E still featured 10 different goal-scorers, led by Gunnip, who had three goals and one assist, and Braun, who got two goals and two assists.
Jennings and Clara Derby also had two-goal outings, with Goodrich, Dunham and Gabby Smart each getting one goal and one assist. Titus, Margo Miller and Chelsea Curtis took turns netting goals, too.
Meanwhile, Ludden/Grimes/OCS would challenge Westhill on Saturday, but the Warriors won big, 22-6, getting a career-best 11 points from Gilhooley, whose total included six goals and five assists.
McAnaney wasn’t far behind, with five goals and two assists, while Geer had four goals and two assists. Katherine McPeak scored three times to go with four assists.
Miller and Karleski both earned one goal and one assist. MacCaull and Ryan Murphy also scored. Driscoll had four of Ludden/Grimes/OCS’s six goals, with Oswald and Costello earning the others.
