With the sun setting early on Wednesday evening, the Westhill girls lacrosse team found itself in a strange position, up five goals on its more accomplished neighbors from West Genesee.
Yet it almost got away from the Warriors, the outcome not settled until freshman goalie Franny Argentieri made a point-blank save in the final seconds to preserve an 8-7 victory over the Wildcats.
This was the season opener for both teams. It was also the debut of new head coaches, with WG having Drew White take over for Kevin Hennigan and Westhill turning to long-time assistant Bob Elmer after the departure of Brittany Brigandi.
Playing with new rules that include a running start after fouls (which was adopted in the college game in 2018), the pace was fast from the outset, even though turnovers and uneven play limited the goal-scoring/
But Westhill gained control midway through the first half with three straight goals in a five-minute stretch, a cushion against the Wildcats scoring twice on free-position shots from Emily Stratton and Tara Osterdale that cut the margin to 4-3 by halftime.
However, the Warriors dominated the early portion of the second half. Reilly Geer, who finished with four goals and one assist, keyed Westhill on one end as its defense blanked WG for more than 17 minutes.
When Gianna Zerillo scored with 13:29 left, the Warriors were up 8-3, and the Wildcats used a timeout, after which it began its comeback.
Stratton’s second goal with 9:17 left started it, with Ostredale and Mackenzie Winn also finding the net. Then Madisyn Schaut fought her to way to the net and converted with 33.9 seconds to play, cutting Westhill’s margin to one.
The Wildcats chased down the ensuing draw with enough time to attack once more. As the final seconds ticked away, Schaut flashed open, got a pass – and saw Argentieri stop it, her 10th save of the game.
Rebecca Gilhooley scored twice for the Warriors, adding an assist, while Kendra MacCaull added a goal and Caroline Miller got two assists. Sam Detor and Gabby Meager also scored for WG.
Westhill did not have a letdown in Thursday’s game against LaFayette, handling the Lancers 16-10 with a steady effort that produced an 8-4 margin by halftime and a bit more cushion from there.
Gilhooley, with three goals and five assists, paced an attack where Miller and Geer each got four goals. Zerillo had two goals and one assist, with MacCaull also converting twice. Grace Winkler had the other goal.
Another local side with championship dreams, Marcellus, opened on Thursday night as it visited General Brown and easily produced enough for a 19-9 victory over the Lions.
Up 11-5 by halftime, the Mustangs spread things around, with Anna Vetsch scoring five times and Maisie Moses adding four goals. Sarah Hutchings finished with three goals and one assist.
Katy Wangsness, Casey Conklin and Laura Canny had two goals apiece, Wangsness adding three assists. Madison Green finished with a goal and two assists.
Back on Wednesday, Jordan-Elbridge opened at home against Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, unable to hold on to a 7-6 halftime lead as the Red Devils took over in the second half and prevailed 12-9.
Gabby Gunnip accounted for most of the Eagles’ offense, netting five goals and earning three assists. Hannah Godrey, Chelsea Curtis, Gabby Smart and Margo Miller had one goal apiece, Godfrey adding an assist.
Two days later, against Central Valley Academy, J-E broke out and bashed the Thunder 21-7, putting up double-digit goal totals in each half as Curtis and Sophia Ttitus both finished with four goals and three assists.
Godfrey notched her own three-goal hat trick, with Delaney Dunham earning two goals and two assists. Miller also found the net twice. Smart, Nicole Brown, Ireland Hill, Anna Simpson and Isabella DeCola had single goals.
