Reaching the Section III finals amounts to an annual affair for the West Genesee boys lacrosse team, but it’s quite different in Marcellus, where the school still awaits its first-ever sectional title.
Both the Wildcats and Mustangs put together impressive all-around efforts in last Tuesday’s sectional semifinals as, in Class A, WG handled Liverpool 11-6 and, in Class D, Marcellus defeated General Brown 12-6.
They played the sectional Class A semifinals at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Bragman Stadium, with WG confronting a Liverpool side it beat twice in the regular season, including a 13-9 decision just one week earlier.
With a keen awareness of what the Warriors could do, the Wildcats put together one of its best sustained stretches of the season, on both sides of the ball.
The defense set the tone as Brad James, Chris Schaczenski and the rest of the back line smothered Liverpool throughout the first half and limited opportunities, while Luke Staudt was earning most of his 10 saves.
Gradually, the attack picked up its pace, too, building a 5-1 lead by halftime and then all but deciding the game with four unanswered goals early in the third quarter to double the margin to 9-1.
Anthony Dattellas, with three goals and one assist, led the way, with Brad Cunningham and Alex Rosa each scoring twice. Jack Delaney had a goal and two assists, with Ryan Sheehan and Nick Louise each getting one goal and one assist. Max Rosa added a goal and Jimmy Bergan got a pair of assists.
While that was going on, in the Class D sectional semifinal at East Syracuse Minoa Stadium, Marcellus, the no. 4-ranked team in the state, would also jump out 9-1 on its post-season opponent – only it did so by halftime.
Everything worked for the Mustangs in those early stages against state no. 6-ranked General Brown, who was trying to make a second consecutive trip to the sectional finals.
On offense, the likes of Luke Ingianni and Matt Connell kept getting open looks and kept finding the net, the pair finishing with four goals apiece, two more than the entire Lions roster.
Meanwhile, on defense, Trevor Widrick, Sean Madden, Brandon Desso and Brian Suarez were strong in the early going, and when GB did get shots, Rob Seeley turned most of them away, eventually recording 15 saves.
Even when GB tried to make a late run, the Mustangs answered it. Aside from Ingianni and Connell, Liam Tierney got two goals, with Mike Quick and Tighe Powell adding single tallies, Powell joining Mason Barney and Emmett Barry in the assist column.
Then Marcellus watched as state no. 1-ranked Skaneateles was stunned by LaFayette 8-7, meaning the Lancers are the only thing standing in the way of the Mustangs’ first-ever sectional title Friday night at 7 p.m. at Liverpool High School Stadium.
Over at Bragman Stadium Friday at 5 p.m, West Genesee will try and keep top seed Baldwinsville from reclaiming the sectional Class A title, the Bees having survived a 7-4 semifinal with Cicero-North Syracuse and beaten the Wildcats twice in the regular season.
