SYRACUSE - An otherwise quiet walk was broken up by heartfelt applause at Coyne Field on Thursday night.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Auburn defender Anthony Adams strips the ball from West Genesee attacker Jordan Rodgers on Thursday night. Rodgers scored five goals for the Wildcats in the win.
Auburn defender Anthony Adams strips the ball from West Genesee attacker Jordan Rodgers on Thursday night. Rodgers scored five goals for the Wildcats in the win.
Long after the game was over, the small group of Auburn boys lacrosse parents and friends that had waited patiently for the Maroons to come out of the locker room, paid tribute after Auburn's 15-3 loss to West Genesee in the Section III, Class A championship.
As the team looked mostly straight ahead in their silent march to the bus, coach Steve Crosby summed up the defeat.
“We're certainly disappointed,” he said. “We're a lot better lacrosse team than we showed tonight.”
West Genesee got revenge in a big way for its loss to Auburn earlier this season - its first in school history.
The Wildcats went on a 12-0 run and nearly shut down the Maroons for the entire second half.
“They had some situations present themselves to and they capitalized,” Crosby said. “They took advantage of some of our miscues and made us pay.”
The Wildcats were without three attackmen in the April defeat and the trio made their presence felt in the title game. Mike Fetterly, Jordan Rogers and Ryan Barber, all missing due to illness or injury, accounted for nine goals and six assists. Though it was the scoring that doomed Auburn, the finesse and stability that the three brought to West Genesee the second time around was key.
“Early we were pushing it and we were trying to get it their again like we did that night,” said West Genesee coach Mike Messere. “Then we settled them down and we changed a little bit what we were doing and then we were all right.”
Though the Wildcat defense was intact for the Maroons win, the changes a half a season took to make were evident. West Genesee had pressure all over, denying nearly every open look, getting a stick on shots that took some zip off the ball.
The score was 2-1 after one quarter, and 3-2 when Messere took a time out with 3:28 to go in the half to discuss what wasn't working for the Wildcats.
“We changed what we were doing offensively,” Messere said. “That got us the move a little bit more; we weren't getting enough movement and we should've, but we were standing.”
After the adjustments, West Genesee scored three straight to end the half and nine more before Auburn's Sean Hogan finally found the back of the net with 3:03 to go in the fourth quarter.
By then, the Wildcats had opened up a 15-3 lead and the only thing left to do was to hand the West Genesee players their 27th championship plaque.
Andrew Chadderdon and Matt Hoey tallied the remaining two goals for Auburn, who finished the season with a school record 17 wins. West Genesee led in shots (36-26) and ground balls (28-20) while the Maroons won the face-off battle 13-9. Kevin Dyer saved 11 shots in the net, while Adam Perry had a stop in the fourth quarter.
“We're very appreciative for all the community support we've had throughout the season, particularly tonight,” Crosby said. “People have been wonderful, following us and supporting us. We can't thank everyone enough for it. It means a great deal to all of us.”
Wildcats 15
Maroons 3
As the team looked mostly straight ahead in their silent march to the bus, coach Steve Crosby summed up the defeat.
“We're certainly disappointed,” he said. “We're a lot better lacrosse team than we showed tonight.”
West Genesee got revenge in a big way for its loss to Auburn earlier this season - its first in school history.
The Wildcats went on a 12-0 run and nearly shut down the Maroons for the entire second half.
“They had some situations present themselves to and they capitalized,” Crosby said. “They took advantage of some of our miscues and made us pay.”
The Wildcats were without three attackmen in the April defeat and the trio made their presence felt in the title game. Mike Fetterly, Jordan Rogers and Ryan Barber, all missing due to illness or injury, accounted for nine goals and six assists. Though it was the scoring that doomed Auburn, the finesse and stability that the three brought to West Genesee the second time around was key.
“Early we were pushing it and we were trying to get it their again like we did that night,” said West Genesee coach Mike Messere. “Then we settled them down and we changed a little bit what we were doing and then we were all right.”
Though the Wildcat defense was intact for the Maroons win, the changes a half a season took to make were evident. West Genesee had pressure all over, denying nearly every open look, getting a stick on shots that took some zip off the ball.
The score was 2-1 after one quarter, and 3-2 when Messere took a time out with 3:28 to go in the half to discuss what wasn't working for the Wildcats.
“We changed what we were doing offensively,” Messere said. “That got us the move a little bit more; we weren't getting enough movement and we should've, but we were standing.”
After the adjustments, West Genesee scored three straight to end the half and nine more before Auburn's Sean Hogan finally found the back of the net with 3:03 to go in the fourth quarter.
By then, the Wildcats had opened up a 15-3 lead and the only thing left to do was to hand the West Genesee players their 27th championship plaque.
Andrew Chadderdon and Matt Hoey tallied the remaining two goals for Auburn, who finished the season with a school record 17 wins. West Genesee led in shots (36-26) and ground balls (28-20) while the Maroons won the face-off battle 13-9. Kevin Dyer saved 11 shots in the net, while Adam Perry had a stop in the fourth quarter.
“We're very appreciative for all the community support we've had throughout the season, particularly tonight,” Crosby said. “People have been wonderful, following us and supporting us. We can't thank everyone enough for it. It means a great deal to all of us.”
Wildcats 15
Maroons 3
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