In the moments prior to the big boys lacrosse showdown last Thursday between Baldwinsville and West Genesee at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, it was time for the Bees to offer its tribute to retiring Wildcats coaching greats Mike Messere and Bob Deegan.
B’ville players presented plaques to Messere, WG’s head coach for 43 years, and Deegan, who has spent 35 seasons as Messere’s assistant and is also stepping down.
The plaques read: “Thank you for all you have done for the sport of lacrosse, not just in Central New York, but across the country. Baldwinsville lacrosse has enjoyed battling against the Wildcats and you. Good luck in your future endeavors.”
If only B’ville’s generosity had stopped there.
For once the game got underway, it did not resemble the tense battles the Bees have pulled out each of the last two times it faced the Wildcats. Instead, WG got the early jump and never was caught as it defeated B’ville 15-6.
As if losing to the Bees in last year’s Section III Class A final wasn’t enough for the Wildcats, B’ville got them again 8-7 on April 17 in Camillus.
True, that previous encounter included difficult conditions (snow, wind, a slippery turf),but it left WG burning to get another crack at B’ville, and when it did, the suspense didn’t last long.
In fact, before the game was 90 seconds old, Max Rosa had found the net twice as he, along with the rest of the Wildcats’ attack, benefited from the domination of Pat Stanistreet in the face-off circle throughout the first half.
Extra possession time meant more chances for WG’s pair of front lines to tear away at a usually stout B’ville defense. Noah Sabatino, Ryan Sheehan and Anthony Datellas joined Rosa in the scoring column as the first quarter wore on.
Even when the Bees did produce something (two goals by Brandon Mimas, one by Pete Fiorni), the Wildcats answered, establishing a crucial pattern when Ryan Smith scored with 4.5 seconds left in the opening period.
During each of the first three quarters, WG would put in late goals to extend its margin. Smith and Datellas did so in the last 90 seconds of the second period, stifling any possible Bees momentum to make it 10-5 at halftime.
Then, as the third period wound down, the Wildcats put the game away with consecutive goals from Rosa, John Bergan and Jack Howes, the last of them as the clock hit zero.
All the while, WG”s defense proved superb in protecting goalie Luke Staudt, who stopped 17 of 23 shots. B’ville’s goalie, J.J. Johnson, had 15 saves.
B’ville didn not trip up before facing West Genesee, as it met Syracuse last Tuesday night and put together a fine all-around effort to beat the Cougars 15-3.
From control of the face-offs to long stretches of possession, B’ville did most things well in the first half, working its way to a 10-2 advantage that allowed it to keep its top players from laboring too much.
Mike Tangredi had a career-best five goals, adding an assist, with Austin Bolton scoring four times. Fiorini, Mimas and Spencer Wirtheim each had a goal and three assists as Cole Peters got two goals and Connor Steria a single goal. Adam Davis and Noah Ravas were credited with single assists.
And even with the West Genesee loss, B’ville could not afford any sort of reflection because, on Saturday, it went on the road to tackle reigning state Class B champion Victor.
As it turned out, the Blue Devils nearly matched what the Wildcats did, prevailing 15-7 over the Bees as it led 10-4 by halftime. Peters still had three goals and one assist, with Fiorini and Wirtheim each finding the net twice. Bolton added an assist as Johnson made 10 saves.
B’ville would finish its regular season this week, taking on Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool before a Saturday clash with Webster Thomas, another Section V opponent.
