Boys lacrosse: Victor puts on clinic in rout over West Genesee in state semifinals

It was fast but not quite that furious.

After all, a 20-9 final score suggests quite a bit. But anger is not among the suggestions because Victor’s win over West Genesee in Friday’s Class B boys lacrosse state semifinal was every bit as dominant as the score indicates.

And at that point, it’s more of an acceptance.

“They pressed out and our dodging was really good,” Victor senior attackman Pax Marshall said. “And we shot really well. We didn’t do much wrong.”

Leads of 6-1 after the first quarter and 13-4 at halftime support that assessment and the second half wasn’t much different. The Blue Devils were on point in every third of the field with precise ball movement from the attack, hustle from the midfield and lockdown attitudes on defense to keep the Wildcats from getting much of anything going.

'We're where we want to be'

West Genesee goals from Teshale Kelly and Zach Ryan cut Victor’s lead to 14-6 early in the second half, but that only seemed to stir up the Blue Devils.

Kyle Saeger, Marshall twice and Thomas Gravino pushed the Victor lead to 18-6 and when Jack Herendeen opened the fourth with a goal, the 19-6 lead kicked in the running clock for the remainder.

“We’re where we want to be,” Victor coach Dan Stone said. “It starts with Sam Ricci (on faceoffs). He gets us possessions and … it builds our confidence.”

Scores, schedule: Boys and girls lacrosse New York state championship weekend

What it means

Victor (19-2) will play for its fifth state championship and first since 2019. The championship game is Sunday at Hofstra against Garden City.

By the numbers

- Eight different players scored for Victor.

- Sam Ricci won 20 of 25 faceoffs for the Blue Devils.

- Jack Herendeen and Thomas Gravino each scored six goals for Victor. Pax Marshall scored three and Liam Wheeler, Simon Kowal, Sam Ricci, Kyle Saeger and Sam Gotham all scored one goal.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Victor boys lacrosse flattens West Genesee in state semifinals