Wildcats Claw Cougars

West Genesee continued their winning ways 3-0(7-0) with a 13-6 come from behind victory using an 8-0 second half scoring burst to defeat the Corcoran Cougars at a game played at Liverpool high school. The only thing colder than the winter like weather was the Cats start as they fell behind 3-2 at the end of the first quarter and 5-3 at the half. Corcoran wasted little time scoring the first goal just 1:06 into the game to take a 1-0 lead. West Genny evened the score at 1-1 moments later on an unassisted goal from junior middie Alex Bily at 10:26.

The Cougars returned the Genny challenge at 8:26 taking a 2-1 lead. Genny missed tying the game on the ensuing face-off after senior co-captain ,middie Matt Cassalia won the draw, ran uncontested down the middle of the field only to have his shot find the lower left post of the Corcoran goal. Once again it was the Cougars taking advantage of the Cats near miss and increased their lead to 3-1 with 6:09 left in the first. West Genny edged a goal closer at 3-2 when junior middie Jake Moulton scored on a left hander at the 4:57 mark.

The Cats tied the game for the first time 3-3 at 9:28 with a goal from senior attackman, co-captain Drew Dabrowski who dropped his man with a nifty spin move 10 yards from the goal before stuffing a shot past the defenseless Cougar goalie.
Corcoran refused to give in to the Cats however and retook the lead 4-3 with 4:03 left in the second quarter. With just under two minutes left in the first half West Genesee was called for a slashing penalty giving the Cougars a man-up opportunity which they used to increase their lead to 5-3 with just 1:11 to play.

With the third quarter under way and the threat of an early season upset on the minds of all in attendance the Cats re-took the field and the game with a flurry of goals and inspired play. Cassalia and junior middie Matt Stanton combined to score the first of six straight Cat goals when Stanton fought through several defenders dished to Cassalia who hit for his second of the game and cut the lead to 5-4.
Genny's tying goal came by way of an extra-man opportunity as the Cougars early game composure began to erode as they started to sense a Wildcat comeback.
Senior attackman Jed Bebee made the Cougars pay immediately for their aggression with a tying goal at 8:12 with an assist from Dabrowski.

A second consecutive Cougar penalty led to the Cats first lead of the game 6-5 with Dabrowski finding Bily alone in front leading to a Corcoran time-out. Cassalia added his second of the quarter to make it 7-5 on an unassisted effort with a lunging one handed shot as he came out from behind the Cougar goal. The Cats next goal was a familiar tic-tack-toe masterpiece when Dabrowski hit junior attackman Andrew Hanover who found Bebee all alone in front for an 8-5 lead. Bebee netted his third of the contest with a mere 59 seconds left in the quarter with a left handed blast and the Cast were roaring with a 9-5 advantage.

Corcoran finally got back on the board 9-6 at the 7:48 mark of the final quarter but it was to little much to late as the Cats had held them silent for over 18:00. Genny answered the Cougars feeble come back with a goal from Stanton who made several mesmerizing moves while being hammered in front of the goal but to no avail as the hapless Cougars watched in disbelief as the Cats increased their lead again 10-6.
Cassalia turned the trick netting his third of the contest with just 2:48 to play and Genny led 11-6. The Cats finally put the Cougars out of their misery 13-6 by way to two Hanover goals in the last two minutes of the game, the final coming with and assist from senior defenseman, co-captain Brian Calabrese.