Given how well both had played in the early portion of the season, it wasn’t a surprise to see the Skaneateles and Westhill girls lacrosse teams near the top of the state Class D rankings.
Yet when the latest state poll was released early last week, the news was even better.
The Lakers, helped by a series of impressive, lopsided wins, were no. 1, and the Warriors were no. 2, while Marcellus was in a strong position, too, earning the no. 6 spot in those same rankings.
Skaneateles resumed action last Thursday night, hosting state no. 11-ranked LaFayette at Hyatt Stadium. The Lancers had faced Marcellus earlier in the week and lost, 16-5, to the Mustangs.
This game wasn’t much different, Skaneateles handling LaFayette 19-4 as Grace Dower had a career-best seven assists, her passes often going to Riley Brogan, who had six goals and two assists.
Duke-bound Olivia Navaroli and Maggie Newton each scored three times, Navaroli getting five assists and Newton two assists. Anna McGlynn and Ava Logan had two goals apiece, with Hope Allyn and Gabby Welch also converting.
As for Westhill, it had no trouble with Jordan-Elbridge last Tuesday night, the Warriors roaring out to a 13-1 advantage by halftime and cruising past the Eagles 17-4.
Rebecca Gilhooley, with her six goals, had two more than the entire J-E roster, with Caroline Miller getting two goals and four assists as Reilly Geer found the net three times.
Julia Lasher managed two goals and one assist, while Kendra MacCaull had one goal and one assist. Single goals also went to Olivia Bolesh, Ellie Masterpole and Julia Bergett.
A day later, Westhill won big again, handling Homer 19-8, this time with Gilhooley getting to double digits in points thanks to her seven goals and three assists.
Miller and Geer both scored four times, Miller adding two assists as Grace Winkler had a goal and two assists. Masterpole, MacCaull and Bolesh also had goals.
Back when Marcellus faced LaFayette, it didn’t stay close for long. Up 11-1 before they reached halftime, the Mustangs displayed prime form as Anna Vetsch scored five times and Laura Canny found the net four times, each adding an assist.
Katy Wangsness got two goals and three assists. Sarah Hutchings, Maisie Moses, Lily Locastro and Madison Green had one goal apiece.
At Tully two days later, Marcellus made it four wins in a row, trading goals for more than a half before wearing down the Black Knights’ defense in the latter stages and pulling away to win 18-9.
Displaying more depth and scoring balance than it had showed for much of the season, the Mustangs had six players earn multiple goals, led by Maisie Moses, who found the net four times and added an assist.
Locastro had a big day, too, with three goals and three assists, while Natalie Clere had her own three-goal hat trick. Vetsch, Wangsness and Canny had two goals apiece, Green getting a goal and three assists as Hutchings had two assists and Casey Conklin added a goal.
Marcellus had another test on Saturday against Cicero-North Syracuse, and trailed at halftime, 7-5, before having its relentless attack wear down the Northstars in the late stages to produce a 15-11 victory.
Vetsch not only scored three times, she piled up five assists. Hutchings netted four goals, with Wangsness and Locastro also earning three goals as Moses and Canny also found the net. Kenai Cameron was terrific in the net, recording 12 saves.
