It’s not easy following up a state championship in any sport, and in girls lacrosse, the task can prove particularly tough if many of the stars of that special team leave the scene.
Christian Brothers Academy faces this challenge of trying to top a 2018 season that ended in a state Class A championship, the second in three years and fourth overall in this remarkable decade.
Gone from that squad are offensive standouts like Claire Jeschke, Grace Hulslander and Olivia Penoyer, plus top defenders Ali Anderson and Kathleen Harrigan, but half the starting lineup is back.
And CBA had no trouble in last Monday’s opener against Mexico, blanking the Tigers in the first half and going on to a 16-2 victory as Gracie Britton, a standout as an eighth-grader last spring, began her freshman campaign with a team-best four goals.
Sophomore Riley Taylor had three goals and one assist, with Tatum Kohlbrenner getting two goals and two assists. Grace Glowaki, Gia Anthony and Bella Roberson also scored twice as Amanda Winn added a goal and Abby Hulslander got an assist.
Then West Genesee showed up on Wednesday, a rematch of last May’s sectional Class A final. But this edition had a different result as, up three late in the first half, the Brothers could not hold on and fell 9-7 to the Wildcats.
Neither team was productive at the outset, the score 1-1 late in the first half before CBA hit on three consecutive goals, appearing to take control.
But Tara Osterdale cut the Wildcats’ deficit to 4-2 just before halftime, and WG caught up early in the second half when Matisyn Schaut and Emily Stratton converted.
With under 10 minutes left and the game 6-6, Halen Saroney found the net and put the Wildcats ahead for good. Stratton and Mackenzie Winn followed with goals that proved to be the difference in the final outcome.
Britton and Anthony led CBA with two goals apiece, while Kohlbrenner, Roberson and Amanda Winn had the other goals. Seven different players scored for WG, with only Stratton and Schaut finding the net twice.
Another defending sectional champion, Fayetteville-Manlius, was off for most of last week, but returned to action Saturday and easily put away Section IV Vestal by a score of 13-5.
Steady in the first half, the Hornets built an 8-4 margin, then clamped down on defense the rest of the way while Annie Steigerwald and Kiera Shanley each ran their totals to four goals, Steigerwald adding four assists.
Gemma Adonizio scored twice, adding an assist, with Katie Shanley getting one goal and two assists. Other goals went to Ava Angello and Sophia Melfi as Natalie Cassalia and Liz Brady combined to stop nine of Vestal’s 14 shots.
