On its way to the best regular-season record in Section III this spring, the Jamesville-DeWitt boys lacrosse team saved its most impressive victory for last.
Up against Section V powerhouse Victor on Monday afternoon, the Red Rams traded blows most of the way, but made a final, decisive surge to defeat the Blue Devils 12-9.
Victor has reached state championship games each of the last four years, winning three times – twice in Class B, once in Class A – and were no. 4 in the state in Class B heading into this game, with an 11-3 record.
These teams were supposed to meet April 27, but it was postponed due to weather. Ironically, it wasn’t much different once J-D and Victor did meet, but the chilly, wet conditions did not deter from the quality of play.
Things were close most of the way, the Rams leading early, but Victor catching up. It was 5-5 at halftime, and much of the second half was just as tight, with the Blue Devils tying it again, 9-9, in the fourth quarter.
But J-D made the decisive move, netting three straight goals to break that tie as time wound down, Connor Durkin leading the way as he scored twice and got a trio of assists.
Will Davis and Matt Kemmis each got three goals, with Tanner Burns getting two goals and one assist. Single goals went to Tyler Brang and Josh Duby, with Duby’s end-to-end run to the net a particular highlight as Pat Murad had an assist.
Even with this, J-D found itself at no. 3 in the state Class C rankings, one spot behind Christian Brothers Academy at no. 2, with the Brothers closing out its regular season Tuesday by handling Homer 17-8.
The first quarter proved decisive here, CBA bolting out 6-0, and then withstanding Homer’s mid-game push by pulling off another shutout in the third quarter to extend the margin to 13-3.
Wyatt Auyer netted six goals, with Preston Taylor getting three goals and four assists. Colin Kelly also scored three times, notching a pair of assists as Ryan Mackenzie amassed four assists. Dan Anderson had two assists as single goals went to Joey Matheson, Brackton Bowler, Josh Hulslander, Ian Henderson and Sam Bonacci.
Fayetteville-Manlius, sitting at no. 10 in the state Class B rankings following its narrow 7-6 defeat to J-D on May 11, made the short trip to East Syracuse Minoa Tuesday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Hornets, improving to 13-3 overall, beat the Spartans 15-4, only allowing two goals in the last three periods as, between them, Ben Hammond and Jack Van Valkenburgh stopped 16 of ESM’s 20 shots.
Mike Howe outscored the Spartans by himself, finishing with five goals. Jack Shanley and Zach Nestor each had three goals and one assist, with Vince Cogliandro adding two goals and one assist. Luke Daino had two assists and Evan Welling one assist, single goals going to Logan Wilkinson and Colin Yancey.
For ESM, who closed its regular season 11-5, Lance Madonna netted three of his team’s four goals, the other going to Tim Crouse as Jackson Palumb added an assist. Logan Lemelbaum made 13 saves.
Unlike the other local sides, F-M would rest during the weekend as the top seed in the Section III Class B playoffs, awaiting a semifinal Tuesday at Liverpool High School Stadium against Fulton or Whitesboro. The other semifinal pits no. 2 seed Auburn against no. 3 seed Oswego.
