Cats capture 22nd Sec. III Title

Team effort leads to romp over Henninger


It was the rubber match, the game to end the guessing. Only one team would walk away with the 2002 Section III Championship and when all was said and done it was no contest as the West Genesee Wildcats put on a masterful display erupting for seven first quarter goals on their way to dismantling the Henninger Black Knights 18-8. The Black Knights had first crack at the Cats when Genny was called for a 30 second push violation, but the senior defensive corp led by Rob Lemos, Dean Mancini, Chad Clark and junior goaltender Casey Rotella shut the knights down. West Genny answered with a foray of their own which led to the first goal of the game when senior middie Devin Burgoon snuckin front of the Henninger cage, took a feed from junior attackman Drew Dabrowski and directed a shot by goalie Tim Graback for a 1-0 lead at 10:59.

Just eight seconds later All-American junior middie and face-off phenom Matt Cassalia made one of his patented midfield to goal dashes, slung a shot past the dazed Garback and Genny led 2-0. Henninger struck back to halve the lead at 2-1 when Genny was called for their second penalty in almost as many minutes, when senior midfielder Greg Rommel bounced a shot over Rotella’s shoulder that barley caught the upper lip of the cage. The Black Kinght goal appeared to be a minor nuisance as Cassalia won yet another face-off, dashed goal-ward only to have Garback stuff his shot, but being unable to control the rebound became a victim to Dabrowski who’s advantageous positioning and rebound goal boosted Genny’s lead to 3-1 at the 10:07 mark. Senior middie and co-captain Mark Conklin assisted on the Cat’s fourth goal at 8:53 with a strong move from the right side of the Henninger goal, fought off an obvious blow to the helmet that was a no call and found Dabrowski who victimized Garback for his second in a row and a 4-1 advantage.

After an extended stand by the Genny "D" the Black Knights finally solved the puzzle with a goal from Joe D’Arrigo to once again cut the lead in half at 4-2. Sophomore Andrew Hanover increased the Cat lead with a solo tally as he drove the left side of the cage slid in front to put one past Garback and Genny led 5-2. With 4:47 remaining in the first quarter Genny put on just one of it’s clinical clears that started with a perfect outlet pass from Rotella to Cassalia at midfield who drove to the goal with three Black Knight defenders draped upon him before dishing to Dabrowski who one-timed it in to the goal for a natural hat-trick and a 6-2 lead. Just 42 seconds later senior middie Matt O’Connell cranked one of his right handed bullets from out side the crease and the Cats had increased their lead to 7-2.

Henninger ended the first quarter with two goals in the final three minutes and it still looked like there may be a little life left in the Black Knights. Burgoon put an end to the Henninger march as hed up the second quarter with a goal at 9:42 increasing the margin to 8-4. Cassalia would strike gain at 5:33 with an assist to senior co-captain, attackman Mike Conklin and Genny was rolling with a 9-4 advantage.

Following the fifth Black Knight goal Genny put on what had to have been one of the most picturesque clears of the Section III season. The play began with Clark being harassed deep in the Genny defensive end of the field. After Clark eluded his defender he hit junior long-stick defender Brian Calabrese at midfield, Calabrese took several strides and fired a pass to Dabrowski who found Mike Conklin to the right of Garback, hit him with a pass and Conklin did the rest as Genny cruised to a 10-5 lead. Genny continued to inflict damage on the Knights with their 11 goal of the game with just seven seconds before the half as Hanover collected his second of the game with an assist from Mike Conklin. Genny owned the third quarter registering the only four goals, one by Dabrowski from Hanover. A one handed over the head right hander by Cassalia, a rebound shot from O’Connell and a goal by senior middie Matt Woolshlager toup a 10 goal lead at 15-5. After a meaningless sixth Henninger tally tothe final quarter the Cats went on another three goal tear with goals from O’Connell, Cassalia and Mike Conklin to seal the game and continue their march toward their 11th State Championship


West Genesee scoring:

Mike Conklin 2 goals, 2 assists, Devin Burgoon 2 goals, Matta Cassalia 4 goals, 1 assist, Drew Dabrwoski 4 goals, 2 assists, Andrew Hanover 2 goals, 1 assist, Matt O’Connell 3 goals, Matt Woolshlager 1 goal, Mark Conklin 1 assist. Saves Casey Rotella 6.

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