Area high school girls lacrosse teams got some much-needed rest at the end of last week before plunging into the Section III playoffs, whose quarterfinal and semifinal rounds take place this week.
Skaneateles, still sitting at no. 3 in the state Class D rankings, had a chance at another marquee victory when it hosted state Class B no. 6-ranked Fayetteville-Manlius last Tuesday night.
Yet even the Lakers could not match the potency of the Hornets, who prevailed 19-11 helped by an attack that featured five different players earning hat tricks.
Kiera and Katie Shanley had matching totals of four goals and two assists, just as Maddie Noel, Gemma Addonizio and Annie Steigerwald got three goals apiece. Steigerwald also had two assists.
Against all this, the Lakers could not keep up, even though Riley Brogan scored five times. Grace Dower and Maggie Newton both had two goals and two assists, with Olivia Navaroli getting two goals. Ionna Christou made eight saves.
By contrast, West Genesee had a strong closing statement last Tuesday against Liverpool, taking charge in the second half to defeat the Warriors 15-9.
The Wildcats trailed for large portions of the first half and were still tied, 4-4, when Sam Detor’s goal four minutes into the second half put WG ahead for good.
And it ignited a 7-0 run, Detor and Elise Mancabelli each scoring twice as Halen Saroney, Mackenzie Winn and Tara Osterdale also contributed goals in that stretch.
Detor finished with three goals and one assist, with Matisyn Schaut getting a goal and five assists. Sophia Scialdone also had two goals as Emily Stratton and Liz Baker also contributed goals.
Westhill is no.4 in the state in Class D and closed its regular season last Wednesday by traveling to Homer and, playing at times under a spring rainbow, beating the Trojans 16-10.
Having gained a 9-3 advantage by halftime, the Warriors deftly withstood all of Homer’s late charges as Rebecca Gilhooley amassed six assists to go with three goals.
Grace Winkler scored four times, with Caroline Miller, Gianna Zerrillo and Reilly Geer each finding the net twice. Miller added two assists as Grace Dwyer, Julia Lasher and Ellie Masterpole got single goals. Kendra MacCaull and Ryan Murphy added assists.
Marcellus would look to recover from the 18-7 defeat it took to Skaneateles on May 10, but was unable to quite do so in last Tuesday’s game against Niskayuna (Section II), falling to the Silver Warriors 7-6.
With the pace slow, neither side was able to make a sustained run. The Mustangs, down 4-3 at halftime, could only match Niskayuna’s production the rest of the way.
Anna Vetsch did net three goals, while Sarah Hutchings and Madison Green each had one goal and one assist. Katy Wangsness got the other goal and Lily Locastro earned an assist
Jordan-Elbridge still had some regular-season work left, and was successful in last Monday’s rain-soaked game against Central Valley Academy, rolling to a 15-6 victory over the Thunder.
Much of the damage was done in the first half, J-E gaining an 11-1 edge as Sophia Titus, by herself, matched CVA’s entire output, setting a career mark by scoring six times.
Ireland Hill notched a three-goal hat trick, while Gabby Smart got two goals. Anna Simpson, Clara Derby, Hannah Godfrey and Margo Miller had one goal apiece. Gabby Skotinski stopped 17 of the 23 shots she faced.
Then J-E lost, 7-6, to Mexico on Wednesday night, dealing with a slower pace throughout the evening and seeing the Tigers sit on the ball throughout the final six minutes after it regained the lead.
Chelsea Curtis had tied it with 8:13 left, one of her two goals on the night. Hill also scored twice, with single goals going to Simpson and Delaney Dunham. Bri Emery earned four of Mexico’s seven goals.
J-E did not get into the post-season – but Skaneateles owned the top seed in the Class D sectional bracket, and could meet no. 4 seed Marcellus again in the semifinals at East Syracuse Minoa if both win quarterfinals Tuesday as Westhill has the no. 3 seed.
Meanwhile, in the four-team Class A sectional bracket, West Genesee drew the no. 2 seed and a semifinal Thursday at 5 p.m. at Auburn’s Holland Stadium against no. 3 seed CBA, whom it beat in the regular season but lost to in last May’s sectional final.
