CENTRAL NEW YORK – In three different classes, area high school girls lacrosse teams got set to battle for Section III championship honors.
Jamesville-DeWitt is in the best position, having won the Class C title a year ago and regaining the top seed this spring with a strong late regular-season push.
A key May 12 win over Homer was followed by a come-from-behind overtime victory over Liverpool and then, last Tuesday, J-D faced another challenge, from reigning Class B champion Auburn, and won 11-8, avenging an April 13 defeat to the Maroons.
The game largely was a showcase for J-D attacker Lindsey Hildreth, who torched Auburn’s defense for six goals and tacked on a pair of assists.
Caroline Stone’s passes helped as she amassed four assists. Merris Kessler scored twice, with Sydney Balotin getting two assists and single goals earned by Stone, Kate Barclay and Macy Durkin, who also gained an assist.
With that top seed in Class C, J-D faces no. 8 seed New Hartford in Tuesday’s quarterfinals, the winner getting to a semifinal two days later at Central Square against Indian River or Chittenango.
Fayetteville-Manlius is again in the Class B sectional bracket, quite glad to be away from Baldwinsville, who completed its regular-season sweep of the SCAC Metro division by beating the Hornets 15-4 last Tuesday at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.
All of the Hornets’ goals came in the first half, two by Ava Angello, one each by Julianna Cogliandro and Emily Noel, but that came amid a Bees surge that produced an 11-4 advantage by intermission.
Hannah Williamson finished with eight saves as Sarah Porter got two assists. Brianna Peters led B’ville with five goals and one assist, while Carlie Desimone and Grace Hollenbeck both scored three times.
Despite this result, the Hornets still owned the no. 2 playoff seed, meaning a bye straight into the semifianls in the six-team bracket, where it meets no. 3 seed Auburn or no. 6 seed Oswego on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Christian Brothers Academy, who will host those Class B semifinals at Alibrandi Stadium, readed itself to face Class A opposition.
Against Westhill last Tuesday night, the Brothers lost, 11-6, to the Warriors, who used defense and steady production to break out of a 4-4 halftime tie.
Other than Gracie Britton, who netted three goals, only Mia Kirch, Madison Cecilia and Lilah Kirch got goals, with Amelia Bonacci getting two assists. Delaney Hayden made six saves as Adelaide Lowery led Westhill with three goals and two assists.
In a five-team Class A bracket, CBA, as the no. 4 seed, will have to beat no. 5 seed Rome Free Academy Tuesday to earn a shot at top seed Baldwinsville in Thursday’s semifinals at East Syracuse Minoa.
The only local team not to make the sectional playoffs, ESM absorbed a 9-4 loss to Oswego last Tuesday, despite Rylyn Commisso’s two goals and one assist. Sophia Ferris and Morgan Purcell also scored, with Mary Grace Godleski and Leah Rehm getting assists.
