Just when it was needed, the East Syracuse Minoa boys lacrosse team earned its most important win of the season.
The Spartans picked up that win last Friday night against Auburn on its home turf, prevailing 14-5 at home to avenge a 14-10 defeat to the Maroons at Holland Stadium three weeks earlier.
What was a tight game broke open when ESM unloaded for six unanswered goals in the second quarter. It ultimately outscored the Maroons 11-1 in the middle two periods.
Lance Madonna scored six times to top Auburn all by himself. Help came from Gavin Houghtaling (three goals) and Luke Rosaschi (two goals, two assists) as Jackson Plumb had a goal and two assists. Derrek Madonna and Alex Recor each got one goal and one assist.
ESM did not have this kind of drama last Tuesday as it put away Fulton 17-10, though the Red Raiders played a strong first half and were up, 6-5, before the Spartans outscored them 9-2 in the third quarter to gain control.
Lance Madonna reached double digits in points for the first time in his career, scoring seven times and adding three assists. Houghtaling had three goals and three assists, with Rosaschi and Dan Boland each earning two goals and two assists. Derrek Madonna, Adam Caramanna and Gianni Martino each got one goal and one assist.
Meanwhile, Christian Brothers Academy may have done its neighbors from Jamesville-DeWitt a small favor.
When the Brothers knocked off Homer 9-8 last Tuesday night at Alibrandi Stadium, it was the Trojans’ first defeat of the season after it had won 10 in a row to open 2018.
Of course, J-D and Homer are both in Class C, ranked no. 3 and 4, respectively, in the latest state Class C poll. It’s likely they will meet in the sectional finals later this month.
With wins over the likes of Baldwinsville, Homer had more than established its own quality, while CBA, no. 4 in the state Class D rankings, still had a bit to prove – and did so.
Right from the outset, the Brothers didn’t let the Trojans establish its tempo, a strong and consistent defense helping to produce a 5-3 edge for CBA going into halftime.
Then the margin doubled, to 9-5, heading to the fourth quarter, but CBA nearly saw it fall apart as Homer roared back with four unanswered goals in the final period.
Knowing that it might be in trouble if it went to overtime, the Brothers, with possession, patiently worked the ball round in the final minute of regulation until Patrick O’Brien flashed open and he put the game-winner past Trojans goalie Mike Turck with 23.8 seconds left.
It was O’Brien’s third goal of the night, with Ryan Mackenzie scoring twice. Preston Taylor had a goal and three assists as Sam Bonacci, Wyatt Auyer and Colin Paciga also converted.
In goal, CBA’s Will Fallon recorded 13 saves. Homer got four goals and one assist from Dante Yacavone as Vincent Basile scored twice, with Dylan Yacavone and Lars Roos getting the other goals.
Perhaps the win got the Brothers feeling too confident about itself, for on Friday it had a big letdown at Carthage as it lost, 10-5, to the Comets, who jumped out to a 10-4 halftime through three quarters and never let CBA recover.
Only Eli Weiss scored twice, with single goals going to Taylor, Mackenzie and Francis Cannizzo. Eight different Carthage players scored, with Weston Gray (three goals) setting the pace.
And CBA couldn’t recover at home 24 hours later in a 12-8 defeat to visiting St. Joseph’s (Buffalo), who led most of the way. Only Mackenzie and Auyer scored twice for the Brothers as Bonacci, Weiss, Ian Henderson and Josh Hulslander got single goals.
The irony was that J-D, too, lost at home on Saturday, falling 14-12 to Fairport, who had a modest no. 18 state Class A ranking but would conquer the Red Rams just as another Section V team, Victor, did in late March.
Fairport’s attack pummeled J-D’s defenses as it built a 10-6 halftime lead. The Rams closed the gap to one in the third quarter, but the Red Raiders, led by Klay Stuver (seven goals) and Brennan Maloney (four goals), answered with man-up goals and pushed the margin to three.
Seeing its 10-game win streak end, J-D still had three goals and three assists from Griffin Cook as Brendan Drotar also scored three times. Tanner Burns and Johnny Keib each had two goals as Tyler Brang and Will Davis had one goal apiece.
Earlier in the week, J-D was at Auburn, making quite an escape as it edged the Maroons 7-6, barely avoiding a letdown following its April 28 win over West Genesee.
After racing to an early 4-1 lead, the Red Rams let up – and paid for it, Auburn dominating the second quarter and seizing a 5-4 lead. Then J-D’s defense settled down, blanking the Maroons in the third quarter and then getting some clutch scoring plays late to pull it out.
Cook scored three times, with Davis getting two goals. Pat Murad had a goal and two assists as Drotar had one goal and one assist.
