ONONDAGA COUNTY – Twice in a span of three days, and in vastly different playing conditions, the West Genesee girls lacrosse team found itself in close battles against major Section III Class B challengers.
And the Wildcats won both of them, first rallying in the summer-like heat to beat Christian Brothers Academy 10-9 on April 15, and then hanging on late in last Monday’s duel with Fayetteville-Manlius by that exact same score in temperatures more than 30 degrees colder.
Here, it was an instance of WG getting the jump in the early stages, battling to a halftime lead and then expanding that margin to 9-5 early in the second half.
Olivia Blanding had three goals and two assists with Molly Doran also scoring three times for a hat trick while also winning six draw controls. Ashleigh Blanding had two goals and one assist as Mia Gialto and Caraline Major had the other goals.
All of this was needed since F-M staged a late comeback attempt, led by Julianna Colgiandro’s four goals and two assists, but could not quite catch up as Allie Hanlon made 13 saves, two more than Hornets counterpart Hannah Williamson.
When the Wildcats hosted Liverpool Thursday night, again it was decided by a single goal, again it ended 10-9 – and it wasn’t in WG’s favor.
Despite a 2-4 record going into the game, Liverpool got four goals from Caitlyn Guilfoil and three goals from Abby Geary. That, along with Gianna Carbone’s pair of goals, overcome a Wildcats side where only Major (three goals) and Ashleigh Blanding (two goals) found the net more than once.
Meanwhile, West Genesee’s boys lacrosse team found itself going to F-M on Saturday still needing a boost following a 13-12 overtime defeat to Liverpool last Tuesday night.
And the Wildcats got it, not only beating the Hornets 12-10, but doing so in come-from-behind fashion.
After an even start, WG struggled in the second quarter and F-M seized a 7-4 advantage. However, the Wildcats turned it around in the third period, pulling even, 8-8, and then playing just as well in the final 12 minutes while moving back in front for good.
Nolan Belotti, Jack Mellen and Liam Burns led the comeback, Belotti setting a new career mark by scoring five times and Mellen getting three goals and an assist and Burns piling up five assists.
Ryan Considine had one goal and one assist. Burns, Jack Giannuzzi and Nash Oudemool had the other goals as Shane Staudt made several key late stops on his way to six saves overall.
All of this followed the Liverpool game, another one where the momentum kept shifting, the Wildcats trailing early but then taking a 7-5 lead by halftime before Liverpool made up all the ground and, with a 5-2 third-quarter push, went back in front.
Then it was WG’s turn, fighting back to tie it, 12-12, by the end of regulation, only to see Liverpool get the OT game-winner as Joe Sacco and Aaron Clouthier led the visitors, each with three goals and two assists.
Burns, in defeat, amassed four goals and four assists. Considine had three goals and two assists, with Oudemool and Giannuzzi also converting.
