For the next 12 months, whatever else it might accomplish, the West Genesee boys lacrosse team must operate knowing that Fayetteville-Manlius has gained the upper hand in their decades-old rivalry.
Twice, these teams played in April – hard-fought, low-scoring contests in the traditional mode of this series – and each time it was the Wildcats taking defeat, including last Tuesday’s 7-5 decision on the Hornets’ home turf.
Back when these sides met April 11 at Mike Messere Field, WG struggled in the face-off circle and required a great defensive effort to keep the game close, though F-M still pulled it out 6-5.
Now, having used wins over Liverpool and Spencerport to bounce back from a lopsided April 23 loss to Baldwinsville, the Wildcats put itself in position for its most impressive win yet this spring.
Down 2-1 after one period, WG struck for three unanswered goals and blanked F-M the rest of the half, taking a 4-2 advantage, but was unable to make it stick.
Unleashing its own attack, F-M hit four times in the third quarter and shut the Wildcats out. Ultimately, WG settled down, its defense again playing well as Luke Staudt worked his total to 17 saves.
Yet all the Wildcats could produce was goals from three different players, Max Rosa and Ryan Sheehan both finding the net twice and Brad Cunningham adding a single goal.
Jack Shanley’s two goals and two assists paced F-M’s modest attack. Mike Howe also scored twice, adding an assist, with Zach Nestor getting a goal and two assists. Vince Congliandro had one goal and one assist. Combined, goalies Ben Hammond and Jack Van Valkenburgh had 11 saves.
Back home Thursday night, WG faced Cicero-North Syracuse, off its own narrow defeat to a rival (Liverpool). Both sides were hungry, but it was the Wildcats taking over in the third quarter and earning a 13-7 victory to complete a regular-season sweep of the Northstars.
WG ha routed C-NS 17-5 when they met in April, but the Northstars were ready for the rematch, taking an early lead and, even when the Wildcats answered, pushing the game to halftime tied, 5-5.
But once WG started to dominate face-offs in the third quarter, it translated to a 6-1 run, the Wildcats having Sheehan produce five assists and Max Rosa net four goals.
Liam Sexton had two goals and two assists, with Cunningham getting two goals and an assist. Riley Small had two assists as Alex Rosa, Nick Louise, Jimmy Bergan and Lucias Allen also scored.
Even with that win, WG knew that a bigger tatement could be made Saturday night if it went to Alibrandi Stadium and knocked off 12-2, state Class C no. 4-ranked Christian Brothers Academy.
But the Brothers jumped all over the Wildcats, leading them 5-0 after one period, and WG never recovered, also shut out in the third quarter as it eventually took a 9-4 defeat.
Max Rosa had two of the Wildcats’ four goals, with the others going to Louise and Sheehan, but most of WG’s chances were turned back as CBA goalie Z.J. Shanin stopped 17 of the 21 shots he faced. Wyatt Auyer led the Brothers with four goals as Ryan Mackenzie got a goal and three assists.
WG would try for a regular-season sweep of Syracuse Tuesday and then challenge Baldwinsville on Thursday night before closing the regular season May 14 against Liverpool.
