If a single theme could guide the West Genesee girls lacrosse team through the latter portion of its regular-season slate, it was a chance for all kinds of payback.
The state Class A no 12-ranked Wildcats had an opportunity to avenge all three of its regular-season defeats, starting last Thursday night at Mike Messere Field when it hosted Cicero-North Syracuse and took care of the first part, beating the Northstars 10-5.
Here was a game that signaled just how much WG had grown since its early-season woes, for it did not get discouraged after an early 3-1 lead melted away and C-NS tied it, 4-4, by halftime.
Instead, the Wildcats proceeded to shut out the Northstars for more than 22 minutes in the second half. As that went on, Eliza MacCaull, Mackenzie Meager and Halen Saroney each netted goals to put WG in front for good.
Phoebe Nelson assisted on Saroney’s tally and then netted back-to-back goals to make it 9-4. All told, Nelson had three goals and two assists to pace the Wildcats’ attack as Sam Detor got three assists.
Matisyn Schaut contributed two goals – one early, another in the final minute. Adrianna Nojaim and Emily Stratton found the net, too, as Madison Fox recorded six saves.
This followed WG’s impressive non-league stretch that commenced April 28 with a win over Jamesville-DeWitt and continued last Tuesday with a trip to Hyatt Stadium and a 16-7 win over reigning state Class D champion Skaneateles.
Skaneateles, who sat at no. 5 in the state Class D rankings, only led once, at 1-0. WG quickly tied it and went in front after that, offering answers every time the Lakers tied to make things close in the first half.
Up 8-4 at the break, the Wildcats made sure Skaneateles could not string any sort of run together in the second half, either. Just three Lakers scored – Olivia Navaroli and Ioanna Christou with three goals apiece, Riley Brogan with one goal and one assist as Navaroli also got two assists.
On WG’s side, Detor anchored the attack, earning four goals and also getting four assists. Nelson scored three times, with Nojaim, Meager and Elise Mancabelli adding two goals apiece. Stratton, Mackenzie Winn and Tara Osterdale each scored, too, with Schaut and Saroney gaining assists.
On Monday night, WG would attempt to get even with Baldwinsville, whom it lost to 8-7 in overtime on April 18 two days after the C-NS loss, before hosting Liverpool Thursday and finishing the regular season May 15 against Fayetteville-Manlius.
