Lacrosse postseason is the be-all and end-all across the north of the country

BALDWINSVILLE, N.Y. (WWNY) – Saturday was the semifinals of the boys lacrosse Section 3, with four Frontier League teams battling for their ticket to the championship game.

In Class B, Watertown faced East Syracuse-Minoa in Baldwinsville.

In the 2nd period, Watertown was trailing 4-5 when Nico Spaziani scored one of his 4 goals to tie the game.

With the score at 6:5 for ESM, Antonio Marznao takes the pass from the front and goes in from behind: 6:6 at halftime.

With the score tied at 7-7 in the 3rd period, Owen O'Donnell goes in alone, beats the goalie and gives the Cyclones an 8-7 lead.

Then it was Jack Converse who scored the top goal and extended Watertown's lead to 9-7.

Jack Rathbun fights his way through the defense and shoots deep into the goal: 10:7 for Watertown.

The Cyclones don't give up here, as Kage Loftus storms in and breaks the pipes: 11-7 Watertown.

In the 4th, Watertown led 11-10 when Loftus scored his third goal of the game, making it 12-10 to the Cyclones.

This is your finale as Watertown advances to the Class B title game to face West Genesee at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Fayetteville Manlius.

In the semifinals of the boys' Class D, General Brown faced top-seeded Marcellus in Chittenango.

It was all Marcellus when Donavan Fraher reached the top shelf and defeated Luke Secreti.

Then it was Nick Rayfield who scored one of his five goals of the day with the spin.

Chris Doshna evades defenders and scores one of his four goals in the competition.

Ryan Chamberlain answered for the Lions, but Marcellus was too much.

The Mustangs end the Lions' season with a 22-6 win over General Brown.

In the Section 3, Class C semifinals, Carthage faced top seed Jamesvilel Dewitt at Fayetteville Manlius.

This time the Red Rams were in full swing when Sam Brazell picked up the loose ball and tickled the cord.

Then Alex Carolin takes the pass forward and finds the ball in the marker.

Grahm Kesselring beat the double team and broke the yarn, and then it was Brazell with a laser that was too hot to touch.

The Comets have no answer in this game and lose to Jamesville Dewitt 15-4.

On the softball field, Sackets Harbor faced Stockbridge Valley in the Section 3, Class D semifinals.

Natalie Gibbons managed a no-hitter until the 7th inning and had 7 strikeouts.

Peyton Britton had the only hit for the Patriots and Sackets Harbor scored once in the 6th and once in the 7th inning.

Sackets Harbor defeated Stockbridge Valley 2-1 to advance to the Class D finals at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Carrier Park.

On the second day of the Section 10 Golf Championship at Tupper Lake, the nine qualifiers for the NYS tournament will be determined based on the combined two-day results.

Ryan Jones of Canton shot a 73 to climb into first place at 152, followed by Colin Patterson of Massena at 155, Ashton Clark of Tupper Lake at 158, Ian Van Wagner of Potsdam at 159, Kahontiio Lazore of Salmon River at 160, Ethan Bouchard of Ogdensburg at 160, Matthew Daniels of Clifton-Fine at 161, Raine Rumble of Gouverneur at 169 and Carter Johnson of Salmon River at 170.

On the girls side, Caitlyn Storie of Gouverneur and Eliza Creurer of Canton are this year's state qualifiers for Section X. Eliza with a two-day total of 185 and Caitlyn 212.

Creurer received the Mary Lawrence Championship plaque from section coordinator Joey Reome.

Two Frontier League girls lacrosse teams will be in the hunt for Section 3 titles Tuesday night.

One of them is the Indian River Warriors, a team looking to make it one win at a time as Fulton stands in the way of another trip to the States.

The Warriors made their second consecutive appearance in the Section 3 Class C championship game on Thursday, defeating Frontier League rival Carthage 13-3 in the semifinals.

With the win, Indian River improved its season record to 16-2, with the only two losses coming against South Jeff in Frontier League play.

With the chance to defend their sectional title, the Warriors have accomplished one of their goals at the beginning of the season, although it was not easy.

“It's 10 times harder than last year. Our goal is to be the number one seed again. Carthage did it today and we have to know that every team we play against will do their best,” said Indian River girls lacrosse coach Victoria Fusco.

“We are definitely under a lot of pressure, but I think we rise to the challenge every day and motivate each other,” said Breelynn LaLonde.

Indian River now faces Fulton on Tuesday at SUNY Cortland with a trip to the states and a chance to win its second consecutive sectional lacrosse title at stake.

What do the Warriors have to do to emerge victorious?

The players say they are sticking to the game plan that has brought them to this point in the season.

“We definitely have to do more than the other team. We have to stay focused on everything we do. It's all about the mental attitude. If you believe you can do it, you will definitely go far,” said Michaela Delles.

For Indian River's seven senior players who have been on the team for the past few years and helped build it from a struggling team to one of the strongest teams in Section 3 lacrosse, there is now a little more urgency to bring home two consecutive titles for the first time in Indian River girls lacrosse history.

“Oh, for sure. This is the last time, you know. The last sport before I graduate. I really want to finish with a win, have no regrets and just have fun.”

said Ravan Marsell.

Indian River will face Fulton in the Section 3 Class C girls lacrosse championship on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at SUNY Cortland.

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