A large majority of the boys lacrosse showdown between neighbors Westhill and Marcellus last Thursday night was closely fought, with one major exception.
A third-quarter outburst where the Warriors managed to put up a majority of its production proved too much for the Mustangs to overcome as Westhill prevailed by a score of 11-8.
With Marcellus moving into the Class D ranks for this year’s post-season push, what took place in the regular season had a chance to offer a glimpse into a future showdown with higher stakes.
If so, the Mustangs could accept what happened in the first half, sticking close to Westhill. Yet it could not like how the Warriors, up 5-3 at the break, managed to outscore them 6-1 in the pivotal third period.
Owen Matukas and Luke McAnaney each scored twice and got three assists apiece. Reilly Sizing got three goals, with Charlie Bolesh adding two goals and two assists. Will Delano added two goals and one assist.
Marcellus did make a late push, seeing Emmett Barry, Gabe VanOrder and Matt Connell get two goals apiece as Luke Ingianni and Matt Crysler also scored. Rob Seeley recorded 11 saves, with Warriors counterpart Liam Felter getting 10 saves.
Just before this, Westhill ventured to Carthage last Tuesday night and emerged with a 5-4 victory over the Comets.
What made this win so special was the way the Warriors had to stay patient after grabbing a 3-0 first-quarter lead. From that point on, Carthage’s defense did a superb job containing Westhill, only surrendering single goals in the second and third periods.
However, the Warriors blanked Carthage in the first and third quarters and held on late behind the fine work of Liam Feller, who stopped 12 of the 16 shots he faced, and a stout back line.
McAnaney was the only Westhill player to score twice, while Delano, Bolesh and Sizing had the other goals. Weston Gray (two goals) and Luke Piroli (one goal, two assists) paced Carthage.
That same day, Marcellus would struggle against LaFayette, taking a14-9 defeat to the Lancers, who steadily built a 9-5 halftime advantage and answered each time the Mustangs tried to catch up late.
Liam Tierney had three goals and Matt Reich earned three assists, with Connell and VanOrder each scoring twice. Barry added a goal and joined VanOrder in the assist column as Tighe Powell had the other goal. Rob Seeley had 12 saves as LaFayette got five goals and two assists from Reid Jackowski and four goals from Gavin Hill.
After the loss to Westhill, Marcellus would host Section V power Penn Yan on Saturday and take yet another close defeat, this one going to two overtimes before those other Mustangs prevailed 5-4.
Defenses dominated the first half, with Marcellus in front 1-0 at the break. That changed a bit in the third quarter, but Penn Yan kept the pace slow and, trailing 4-3, was able to tie it in the final period and then win it in the second OT.
VanOrder had a part in all four Marcellus scoring plays, finding the net twice and assisting on goals by Connell and Crysler. Barry also had an assist as Seeley recorded nine saves.
