Wildcats Sizzle In Advancing To Title Game

The West Genesee boy's varsity lacrosse team crept closer to their 25th Sec. III lacrosse title on a sweltering 90 degree afternoon at Michael J. Bragman field on the Campus of Cicero-North Syracuse with a 6-5 victory over the Cicero-North Syracuse Northstars. The last time the Cats and Northstars met CNS captured a 7-6 victory at home along the way to their divisional title.

Unlike their last meeting the Cats pounced early and never looked back as sophomore middie Luke Cometti ripped a spinning right handed shot past CNS goalie Jamie Praino at 8:28 to give Genny a 1-0 lead. CNS then knotted the game 1-1 at 5:39 when attackman Mike Broadhead took a pass from attackman Nick Lococo and squeezed a shot between junior goalie John Galloway's legs.

A little over two minutes later West Genny retook the lead as senior middie Roby Farchione took a feed from junior attackman Collin Donahue and shot the ball past Praino's left side for a 2-1 lead that Genny would take into the second quarter.The Cats continued to force the play and at 10:06 of the second quarter Collin Donahue shot wide, but senior attackman Chris Schmidt backed up the shot and found Adam Mazzoni who found the mark for a 3-1 advantage.

At the seven minute mark the Wildcats made the score 4-1 with junior attackman Brian Donahue found Schmidt to finish off a fast break. Just under a minute later the Cats increased their lead to 5-1 as Brian Donahue found Schmidt cutting to the goal again. The Northstars battled back 5-2 with just over two minute left in the half as his right handed shot hit the crossbar then banked in off the right post.

The third quarter saw both teams searching for consistent offense in the searing heat, but Cicero-North Syracuse was the only recipient as Nick Bloomer cut to the goal with just over 48 seconds remaining and put a behind the back shot past Galloway to cut the lead to 5-3.

West Genny opened the scoring in the final quarter 6-3 with 7:43 to go as Luke Cometti netted his second of the game with a scorcher off the carpet from 26 yards away. CNS continued to nibble away as a goal by Jeff Gilbert with an assist to Lococo with 6:27 to go made the score 6-4.

The Northstars would have the last gasp as Lococo mixed the Genny defense up behind the goal and beat Galloway in the upper right corner with 1:06 to go to make the score 6-5. The Cats won the ensuing face-off and after a great clearing run by senior defenseman Jaren Woeppel the Cats were assured another chance at a Sec. III championship.