Wahconah Takes Two from Hoosac Valley

DALTON, Mass. -- Like any coach, Kathy Budaj will tell you that her team is taking the season one game at a time.

 

On Wednesday, her Wahconah girls lacrosse team got to take two.

 

Emmy Cote and Perin Genaway each had a pair of hat tricks to lead Wahconah to a double-header sweep of Hoosac Valley by scores of 16-4 and 17-7.

 

The rare twinbill was the result of the delayed start to the spring season and a lack of makeup dates that worked for both sides.

 

No one in Wahconah blue was complaining about doing the extra work as it won its fifth straight and improved to 10-4 this spring.

 

Budaj was pleased to get the win and happoier still with the way her team is rounding into form  with four games left in the regular season.

 

"We're heading in the right direction," she said.

 

"We have our eyes set on the post-season. One game at time, but we want to make some noise in the post-season this year. We were one-and-done a year ago.

 

"I think we're in better position than we were last year going into the tournament. We've had some players out and we're getting them back, which helps. My bench will be a little bit deeper."

 

Lack of depth has cost Wahconah in losses to Belchertown, Mount Greylock and Mount Anthony -- all three games Wahconah led at half-time.

 

On Wednesday, the games were never that close, athough Hoosac Valley (2-8) was more competitive in the second game of the day and its fourth in a span of three days.

 

The second half of Game 1 was played in running time after Wahconah took a 13-3 lead into the break. Cote ended up with four assists to go with her three goals, and Jordan Budaj scored twice with three assists. in that one.

 

In Game 2, Hoosac Valley's Alie Mendel scored midway through the first half to make it a 3-2 game before Wahconah went on a 5-1 run to take an 8-3 lead into the half.

 

Mendel ended up scoring four goals in Game 2, while Aubrey Rumbolt scored a pair, including the first goal of the second half to trim the deficit to 8-4.

 

Wahconah scored the next three -- one by Genaway, two by Budaj -- to establish a seven-goal lead with 16 minutes, 34 seconds left.

 

After Mendel scored to make it 11-5, Hoosac had a good chance to get within five, but Wahconah keeper Katie Bachli stopped a free position try for one of her five saves.

 

At the other end, Monica Vallieres stopped six shots for Hoosac Valley, which took a step backward after playing well in its last five outings.

 

"We were better in the second game, but the way we played the last couple of games, we didn't show any of that today," Hoosac coach Molly Meczywor said. "We were flat coming off the bus.

 

"We weren't in a good defensive position. We didn't catch. Our passes weren't that great. These two games were not characteristic of the way we've played."

 

The Hurricanes have two more chances to play up to their potential: Monday at Lee and Thursday at Pittsfield.

 

Wahconah will be tested in its next two outings: home against Mount Greylock on Friday and Monday.

 

"That was a tough loss," Budaj said, referring to the 9-8 loss in Williamstown on May 1. "We were up three goals at half-time, but again, no subs. ... Hopefully, we'll get a few more subs and give them a better second half this time."