When the first set of state girls lacrosse rankings were released early last week, Section III was well represented in Class D, holding four of the top seven spots.
Westhill topped this group, in the no. 3 spot, and when the Warriors resumed action on Thursday at Cazenovia, it jumped all over the Lakers, leading 10-3 by halftime on the way to a 13-6 victory.
All the while, Rebecca Gilhooley proved impossible to contain, picking up five goals and four assists as Caroline Miller gained three goals and two assists. Reily Geer scored twice, with Grace Winkler getting a goal and two assists. Gianna Zerrillo and Olivia Bolesh also scored.
Skaneateles wasn’t far behind, at no. 5, and made a case to climb higher with its impressive 11-3 victory over Christian Brothers Academy last Tuesday at Alibrandi Stadium.
All the offense the Lakers needed was generated in the first eight minutes, when it sprinted out to a 5-0 lead. Though it cooled down a bit from there, Skaneateles dominated in all phases of the game.
Olivia Navaroli set the tone, winning most of the draws to increase the Lakers’ possession time. Defenders like Olivia Dobrovosky, Jessica Patalino and Grace Kush pressured CBA into turnovers, and Ionna Christou was superb in the net, recording nine saves.
Navaroli was also part of a well-balanced attack as she and Riley Brogan both had two goals and three assists. Grace Dower scored three times, adding two assists, while Maggie Newton had three goals and one assist. Hope Allyn got the other goal.
As a follow-up on Thursday, Skaneateles did much the same thing against Jordan-Elbridge, shutting the Eagles down for long stretches and cruising to a 15-2 victory.
Giving up just one goal in each half, the Lakers had Navaroli produce three goals and three assists. Dower and Newton each had two goals and two assists, Ava Logan also finding the net twice as Allyn got a goal and two assists.
Dobrovosky had one goal and one assist, with Anna McGlynn and Sarah Bailey contributing single goals. Brogan and Elizabeth Wamp notched single assists.
Marcellus sat at no. 6 in the state rankings despite back-to-back defeats to CBA and Shenendehowa, a skid it broke when it went to Mexico last Tuesday and tore past the Tigers 18-4.
It was 13-2 by halftime, the Mustangs seeing Sarah Hutchings amass five goals and five assists. Katy Wangsness also scored five times as Anna Vetsch got six goals and one assist. Lily Locastro had a goal and two assists, with Madeline Caron and Laura Canny also converting.
A 20-9 victory over Homer followed, Marcellus seeing Vetsch pour in seven goals, spread out over the entire game as Canny finished with four goals and one assist.
Wangsness had her own three-goal outing, with Locastro getting a goal and three assists. Hutchings scored twice as Maisie Moses had one goal and one assist. Casey Conklin added a goal.
Jordan-Elbridge had faced Mexico the day before Marcellus did, and lost, 8-7, to the Tigers, not quite able to come back after it trailed 6-3 at halftime.
Still, Gabby Smart delivered four goals for the Eagles, with Ireland Hill, Delaney Dunham and Hannah Godfrey earning one goal apiece. Gabby Skotinski made six saves as Bri Emery led Mexico with two goals and four assists.
It wasn’t as close when J-E fell 12-6 to Cazenovia a day later. Smart again had a big day, with five goals, and Dunham added a goal while Skotinski amassed 17 saves. Grace Rajkowski paced those Lakers with four goals.
