Skip to main content

GCC

GCC softball bats go cold, swept by Monroe

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College softball team managed just six total hits in a doubleheader against Monroe Community College on Thursday afternoon, falling 10-2 in game one and 11-2 in game two.

Monroe jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the first in game one but Genesee responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning after Rachel VanDuser singled and eventually scored on fielders choice.

Starting pitcher Alishia Foss set the Lady Tribunes down in order in the second and third and then notched the game at 2-2 after reaching on a single, advancing to second on a wild pitch, reaching third on an infield single by Chelsea Lynch and then scoring after Lynch drew a throw to second on a stolen base.

That would be it for the Lady Cougars bats, however, as Genesee managed only one hit the rest of the way. Monroe sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth in a five-run inning and then added three runs in the fifth to take game one via the mercy rule (eight-run lead or higher after five full innings).

Monroe scored the first ten runs of game two and the Genesee hitters were retired in order in each of the first three innings before Miki Kawaguchi singled to give GCC its first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth. VanDuser followed with a single of her own and both came around to score on RBI ground outs by Foss and Lynch respectively to get Genesee to within 10-2.

The Lady Tribunes added a run in the fifth to extend their lead and GCC went 1-2-3 in their final at bats, falling again via the mercy rule in game two.

VanDuser got a hit in each game for GCC and scored a run in each game as well. Foss collected two hits and scored a run in game one and had a run batted in during game two.

The Lady Cougars fall to 9-19 overall on the season and they will travel to Alfred State on Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

GCC coach accused of double-dipping resigns from college

By Howard B. Owens

A Genesee Community College softball coach who was accused of filing time cards for duplicate hours worked at two different government agencies has resigned her position with the college, according to GCC spokesperson Richard Ensmans.

Besides coaching at GCC, Renee Smith, 28, was being paid as a recreational therapist for the State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

The inspector general said at one time Smith said she was on the clock for her full-time job with the state when she was in fact traveling to Myrtle Beach, SC, with the GCC softball team.

The state claims Smith bilked the state out of $1,000 in false payments.

The Democrat & Chronicle was first to report the allegation that Smith was double-dipping on her state pay and her GCC pay.

(via WBTA)

GCC men's lacrosse rolls in Region 3 opening round

By Andrew Crofts

The No.2 Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team overcame a slow start to down visiting Dean College (MA) 17-4 in the opening game of the Region III playoffs on Wednesday night.

Neither team got much going to begin the first quarter and Genesee was forced to go on the penalty kill early. After successfully killing off a man-down situation, Marcus Palvino gave GCC a 1-0 lead just shy of eight minutes into the opening frame.

Dean tied it just 30-seconds later and the Cougars again faced a penalty kill situation, this time down two men. Genesee successfully killed off both penalties and after returning to full-strength, Jonathan Gill scored his first of six goals in the game to give GCC a 2-1 lead with five-minutes remaining in the first.

Charlie Evans made it 3-1 after the Cougars killed off another penalty and Genesee took a two-goal lead into the second.

Christian Reiller and Cameron Seneca scored the first two goals of the second to put GCC in front 5-1 and the penalty kill came through again before goals from Reiller and Gill gave Genesee a 7-2 lead. The Cougars took a 7-3 lead into the break.

The third quarter was all Genesee as the home team out-scored the visitors 6-0 in the period to take a 13-3 lead into the fourth.

Seneca answered an early fourth quarter Dean goal before Gill recorded three consecutive goals to end the game and advance Genesee to the Region West Championship and a chance at an automatic bid into the NJCAA National Tournament.

Gill finished with six goals and an assist, Reiller added three goals and three assists, Palvino scored four times and also had an assist, Seneca finished with two goals and two assists, Tyler Skowronski and Saxon Weil each had two assists and Chris Rabung scored once.

Along with his goal, Evans was 6-9 on face-offs, Mike Breindel was 6-9 and Mike Tolli was 4-6.

Jordan McElligott and Pete DiLaura led the defense with four takeaways and seven ground balls each and Brady Lawrence made 23 saves in net.

Genesee will play for their chance at the automatic bid on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Opponent to be determined.

GCC women's lacrosse drops final home game to Niagara

By Andrew Crofts

Denae McGrath scored three goals for the Genesee Community College women's lacrosse team on Wednesday night, but it was not enough as the Lady Cougars fell to visiting Niagara County Community College, 16-4 in their final regular season home game of the season.

McGrath's first goal came at the 11:08 mark of the first half to cut Niagara's lead down to 3-1. Cassandra Dembik scored four-minutes later to get GCC to within 3-2 and Genesee was able to hang around. McGrath responded to a Niagara goal with her second goal of the game to keep the Lady Cougars within one, at 4-3.

The Lady Thunderwolves took control of the game in the final ten-minutes of the first half, however, scoring five unanswered goals to end the opening period, upping their lead to 9-3.

Niagara made it 13-3 before McGrath scored her third goal of the game late in the second half and the Lady Thunderwolves cashed in three more times before the night was over to earn the victory.

Sarah Bosa made 18 saves in net for Genesee.

Genesee falls to 0-7 on the season and will travel to Herkimer County Community College on Saturday for a 1 p.m. start.

GCC softball takes one of two from Niagara

By Andrew Crofts

Alishia Foss came through with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one, but the Genesee Community College softball team fell in game two to split a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader with visiting Niagara County Community College.

Foss' single capped off a five-run seventh inning for the Lady Cougars, who battled back and forth with the Lady Thunderwolves in a high scoring first game.

Genesee scored four times in the bottom of the first but trailed 6-4 before their at bats in the third. Andrea Pursel and Yui Sotah put together back-to-back doubles and both scored runs to tie the game at six after three.

Niagara then scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 9-6 lead and held GCC to just two hits during their next three at bats. The Lady Thunderwolves upped their lead to 10-6 with a run in the top of the seventh, before Genesee sent all nine batters to the plate in the seventh, highlighted by the walk-off single by Foss.

Sotah finished the game 3-4 with two doubles and three runs scored, Pursel went 2-4 and scored three runs and Rachel VanDuser went 3-4 with a triple, two singles and a run scored.

Along with the game-winning hit, Foss also earned the win on the mound, throwing all seven innings.

(Members of the GCC softball team celebrate after Alishia Foss delivers the game-winning hit in game one of a doubleheader against Niagara County Community College)

 

In game two, Niagara used a six-run second inning to take an 7-0 lead, but Genesee was able to climb back into the game. Taylor Gayton plated Pursel in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI groundout to get the Lady Cougars on the board and VanDuser delivered a run scoring single to get GCC to within 7-2.

Pursel, the game two starter, pitched around a hit in the third and fourth and kept Niagara off the board in both innings.

After two runs in the third, GCC put together a four-run fourth to take an 8-7 lead. Chelsea Lynch, Pursel, Sotah and Gayton each delivered RBI's in the inning.

That would be it for the GCC offense however, as Niagara took the lead with three runs in the fifth and added four in the seventh and held Genesee without a run over the final three innings to win 14-8.

Pursel went 3-4 in game two, scored three runs and drove in one, Lynch scored twice and stole a base and Gayton had two runs batted in.

With the split, Genesee is now 9-17 overall on the season. They will host Monroe Community College for a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 3 p.m.

GCC softball comes up empty against Mercyhurst North East

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College softball team came up empty in a doubleheader against Mercyhurst North East on Monday afternoon, falling to the visiting Lady Saints, 18-0 in game one and 14-6 in game two.

Genesse was held hitless in game one for 4 1/3 innings before Yui Sotah hustled out an infield single with one out in the fifth. Mercyhurst powered its way to an 18-0 mercy rule win, smashing two home runs in the game and scoring nine runs in the third inning.

In game two, Tori Kramer extended a 3-2 GCC lead with a two-run home run to left center field in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Lady Cougars in front 5-2. Genesee held a 6-4 lead after five innings, but the Lady Saints put together a four-run sixth to take back the lead for good. Mercyhurst shut the Genesee bats down over the final two innings and added six runs in the seventh to complete the sweep with a 14-6 win.

Miki Kawaguchi went 3-4 with a run batted in, Brittnee Hallett-Jonathan scored two runs and went 2-4 at the plate and Kramer finished the game 2-4 with a run scored and three runs batted in.

Genesee falls to 8-16 on the season and will return to action tomorrow when they host Niagara County Community College for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

(#10 Yui Sotah connects on a pitch against Mercyhurst North East)

Crime Victims' Week kicks off with flag raising, seminar on human trafficking at GCC

By Howard B. Owens

Crime Victims' Rights Week kicked off in Genesee County today with the raising of a ceremonial flag by a local law enforcement color guard at Genesee Community College, followed by a daylong seminar for students, police and others who work with crime victims on human trafficking.

Theresa Asmus delivered opening remarks. U.S. Attorney for WNY William Hochul was the morning's keynote speaker.

GCC student art exhibit open through Thursday

By Daniel Crofts

Jennifer Spychalski, a freshman at Genesee Community College, is the winner of the college's "Fine Arts Student Show."

Her work, and that of other students enrolled in GCC's Fine Arts program, will be featured in an exhibit that will be open through Thursday.

According to a press release from Elisa Di Pietro, this exhibit "features two- and three-dimensional artwork" and "reflects the diverse coursework from drawing (to) painting, photography, 2D and 3D design and ceramics."

The exhibit is at GCC's Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery at 1 College Road in Batavia.

For more information, contact Di Pietro at 356-2338.

Photo and information submitted by Elisa Di Pietro.

Sutton homers twice, Cougars sweep Mercyhurst North East

By Andrew Crofts

Sean Sutton hit a home run in both games of Thursday afternoon's doubleheader and the Genesee Community College baseball team picked up two wins against Mercyhurst North East.

Sutton started his afternoon with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first inning in game one after Fauchedre Celestijn delivered a three-run triple and the Cougars were in front 5-0 after one.

Brandon Stagg threw a complete game for GCC allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out two.

Brandon Collins went 3-3 with a single and two doubles. He also scored twice and drove in a run. Shakeel Newton added a three hit effort with three singles and scored three runs.

Genesee scored in each of the first five innings and won game one, 12-5.

(Sean Sutton (left) celebrates with Fauchedre Celestijn after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of game one against Mercyhurst North East on Thursday afternoon)

 

In game two, Mercyhurst jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a couple of runs in the second inning. GCC cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third with an RBI double from Zach Ranta that scored Collins.

Pitcher Malik Mitchell kept the visiting Saints off the board in the fourth and the fifth, and Sutton blasted his second home run over the right field wall to give Genesee a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Mitchell gave way to Eric Villalobos after 5.2 innings with a 4-2 lead and Villalobos allowed an inherited runner to score and one run of his own on just one hit the rest of the way to earn the four out save. Genesee won game two, 6-4.

Mitchell allowed three runs on five hits and struck out six and earned the win.

Collins went 2-4 in game two, scored two runs and also drove in a run. Celestijn was 1-1 with a single, a run scored, two walks and was hit by a pitch.

Genesee improves to 13-6 overall on the season and are now 2-4 in conference play. They will host Mercyhurst North East again on Saturday at the GCC campus for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

(Malik Mitchell pitches for GCC in game two against Mercyhurst North East)

GCC softball drops two to Jefferson

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Jefferson Community College on Thursday afternoon, falling 11-6 in game one and 7-5 in game two.

Genesee had an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first inning in game one, but allowed five runs to Jefferson in the fifth to give up the lead for good.

Chelsea Lynch scored two runs, stole two bases and delivered a double. Miki Kawaguchi also scored a run for GCC.

In game two, GCC trailed 3-0 before putting together a five-run fourth inning to take the lead. Taylor Gayton sparked the rally with an RBI single that scored Yui Sotah. Tori Kramer followed with an RBI single and Rachel VanDuser tied the game at three with an RBI double. Kramer then gave the Lady Cougars the lead after scoring on a passed ball and with the bases loaded, Kawaguchi scored to make it 5-3 GCC after Andrea Pursel was hit by a pitch.

Jefferson came back to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth and then used a two-run home run in the seventh to take a 7-5, which they held on to.

Genesee falls to 6-14 on the season and will host Columbia-Greene Community College on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

(Alishia Foss (white) delivers a single in game two of GCC's doubleheader against Jefferson CC)

Study finds that GCC has about a $169 million economic impact on local economy

By Howard B. Owens

A recent study released yesterday by Genesee Community College finds that the college has about a $169.1 million impact on the local economy.

Kjell Christophersen, Ph.D., president and founder of EMSI, discussed the study yesterday at GCC and said regional spending by former students, the college and out-of-the-area students adds positive growth to Genesee County's economy.

“Things are good. Things are very good," Christophersen said. "The impacts have actually grown since the last time we worked here (about 2 ½ years ago) and it's attributable to a more efficient allocation of resources."

Christophersen said that in his experience about 60 to 70 percent of students at community colleges stay in the region.

“If you move up the education ladder from one level to another level," he said, "you earn a lot more, and therefore, pay a lot more in taxes. It behooves the citizens of a particular county to continue to support the college because of the fact that they are getting a more educated workforce coming back to reside in the region and pay more in taxes.”

(via WBTA)

No.2 Cougars roll Broome CC

By Andrew Crofts

The No.2 Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team scored the first nine goals of the game on Wednesday night to roll past the visiting Hornets of Broome Community College by a final score of 20-4.

Cameron Seneca scored three first quarter goals to help GCC to a 7-0 lead after one.

Jonathan Gill scored two of his four first half goals in the second quarter and the Cougars did not allow Broome to score until the 8:40 mark of the second frame. GCC led 12-2 at the break.

Genesee scored five times in the third quarter, including two goals from Chris Rabung, and allowed only one Hornets goal to increase its lead to 17-3 after three.

Rabung rounded out the scoring at the 7:14 mark of the fourth quarter, following goals from Blake Hurt and Saxon Weil, who also scored three times on the night, and Genesee cruised to its 12th win of the season.

Gill led the offense and added two assists to his four goals, Weil added two assists to his three goals, Rabung finished with three goals and an assist, Christian Reiller had three assists on the night and Charlie Evans, Tyler Meegan and Doug Ellsworth all had a goal and an assist.

Evans was 9-12 on face-offs, Mike Tolli was 5-6 and Mike Breindel was 5-9.

Brady Lawrence made two saves in 30-minutes of work it net, Craig Seneca made one save in 15-minutes and Mark Pucek made five saves in 15-minutes of play.

Pete DiLaura led the defense with five takeaways and seven ground balls and Tyler Skowronski had five takeaways.

Genesee improves to 12-1 overall on the season and will host Finger Lakes Community College in their final regular season home game on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Five-run fifth dooms GCC Softball

By Andrew Crofts

A five-run fifth inning doomed the Genesee Community College softball team against Broome Community College on Tuesday afternoon, as the visiting Hornets picked up an 8-2 win in the only game of what was supposed to be a doubleheader.

Rain fell all afternoon, cancelling game two, and caused slick conditions throughout game one.

Genesee trailed 3-2 in the fifth before giving up the five runs, and the Lady Cougars could not bounce back.

Andrea Pursel pitched 4.1 innings before giving way to Alishia Foss who finished the final 2.3 innings of the game without giving up a hit.

Both GCC runs came as a result of wild pitches as Miki Kawaguchi scored to tie the game at one in the bottom of the first and Chelsea Lynch crossed the plate in the fourth to get Genesee to within 3-2.

Kawaguchi, Lynch and Brittnee Hallett-Jonathan all collected hits for GCC.

Genesee is now 6-12 on the season and will host Jefferson Community College for a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 3 p.m.

(Pitcher Andrea Pursel (white) tries to cover the plate as a Broome CC runner slides in safe)

John Gardner Conference attracts scholars and fans from far and wide

By Howard B. Owens

This item was submitted by Byron Hoot, from Wexford, Pa., who has made a couple of trips to Batavia in the past year in connection with his appreciation of John Gardner, including this past Saturday's John Gardner Conference at GCC.

“The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” So began the first presenter for the 15th Annual John Gardner Conference hosted by Genesee Community College organized by Tracey Ford and Charley Boyd of GCC, coordinated by Sandy Hortdahl of Northeast State, Tennessee. 

It was “the spirit (that) giveth life” throughout the conference. The spirit of Gardner was alive and well among the conference attendees, who came from across New York state, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. 

Presenters spoke on a wide range of topics, from Paul Johnston’s “Taggart Hodge, Antinomian” to John and Helen Maier’s reading of “The Miller’s Tale” in Chaucer’s Middle English, to Denise Divins’ probing look at the archetypical world of Grendel. In addition, there was Bette Smith’s excellent performance of Gardner’s one-act play, Days of Vengeance, and Jennifer Duncan’s talk of Gardner’s influence on her own writing. 

Attendees had a chance to examine some of the original Gardner materials housed at GCC and overseen by librarian Phyllis Andrews. Finally, as a visual coda, there was a screening of "The Sunlight Man," a documentary made by Gardner’s son, Joel. As important as the ideas and insights, the presence of Gardner’s brother Jim and his wife, Wanda, added the personal touch of stories from family members who loved and love Gardner still.

A pilgrimage to the Pok-a-Dot for lunch gave conference attendees added time to socialize. A hidden gem, Genesee Community College deserves much credit for keeping alive the spirit of an important American writer. This is a pilgrimage well worth making.

GCC men's lacrosse wins two weekend games; Captures WNYAC Title

By Andrew Crofts

For the second straight year the Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team are the Western New York Athletic Conference champions after defeating Mercyhurst North East on Sunday and finishing a perfect 4-0 in conference play this season.

The game resumed after being postponed due to weather on April 10th with 50-seconds remaining in the first quarter and the Cougars on top 4-1. Chris Rabung made it 5-1 with a goal just after the restart to give GCC, which took over the No. 2 NJCAA National raking this week, a four goal lead after one.

Genesee scored ten times in second quarter including three from Christian Reiller, who finished with six in the game, and two from Nick Gray. GCC led 15-3 at the half.

The Cougars kept up their strong play in the second half, leading 19-3 after three and cruising to a 24-5 victory.

Brady Lawrence played a total of 36 minutes in net and then gave way to Mark Pucek who played 24 minutes. Both combined to make nine saves.

Mike Tolli was 7-8 on face-offs on the afternoon.

Pete DiLaura led the defense with four takeaways, five ground balls and two assists. Johnny Astrologo, Jordan McElligott, Bobby Wheeler, Adam Jacobs, Evan Horton, Jon Ryan and Blair Berg combined for 10 takeaways and 10 ground balls.

Reiller finished with six goals, Gray posted four goals and two assists, Rabung ended with three goals, Dave Ellsworth added a goal and two assists, Doug Ellsworth chipped in two goals, Jonathan Gill and Tyler Meegan each scored two goals, Luke Grahnert added a goal and an assist and Marcus Palvino and Blake Hurt each assisted on two goals.

Sunday's win followed a 14-5 Cougars win over Cayuga Community College on Saturday.

Genesee is now 11-1 overall on the season and will host Broome Community College this Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

VP at GCC reportedly arrested in Rochester on public lewdness charge

By Howard B. Owens

Genesee Community College's second-highest ranking administrator, the interim VP for Academic Affairs, Michael Stoll, was reportedly arrested on Good Friday in Rochester for alleged public lewdness.

The 66-year-old resident of Warboys Road, Bergen, allegedly exposed himself to an undercover police officer at 11 a.m. while in a Rochester municipal park.

Our news partner WBTA learned of the arrest from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

The charge against Stoll is a Class B misdemeanor.

Stoll posted $250 bail the same day.

The senior administrator began his career at GCC 42 years ago when the college first opened.

GCC spokesman Richard Ensman told WBTA that the college was not aware of Stoll’s arrest. Ensman said GCC is investigating.

GCC women's lacrosse falls in home opener

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College women's lacrosse team fell to 0-2 on the young season after losing to Monroe Community College 26-0 on Saturday afternoon in their home opener.

MCC led 18-0 at the half and controlled possession throughout the game.

Sarah Bosa made 13 saves in net for GCC and Jordan Powell had four draw controls in the game.

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Wednesday afternoon when they host Jefferson Community College for a 4 p.m. start.

(Rachel Ball (white) fights for the opening draw for GCC)

GCC softball earns walk-off win, splits doubleheader with JCC-Olean

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College softball team split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with visiting Jamestown Community College-Olean, falling in game one, 7-6, and winning game two, 13-12.

JCC-Olean built an early 5-0 lead in game one before Brittnee Hallett-Jonathan delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the second inning to get GCC on the board.

The Lady Jaguars scored twice in the fourth, but Genesee responded with two runs of their own to stay within 7-3. Chelsea Lynch led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball. Yui Sotah followed with a single and then scored for the second time in the game on an RBI groundout by Hallett-Jonathan.

Trailing 7-3 in their final at bat, the Lady Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but were unable to complete the comeback and dropped game one. Taylor Gayton delivered a bases loaded single in the home half of the seventh and Lynch added a two-out RBI double, but the rally fell short.

(Yui Sotah (white) slides in safe to second base for GCC in game one of their doubleheader on Saturday afternoon)

 

Alishia Foss pitched a complete game on the mound for GCC. Sotah went 3-4 at the plate and scored two runs. Miki Kawaguchi added a hit and scored a run and Lynch finished 2-4 and scored a run.

In game two, Genesee took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after pitcher Andrea Pursel set down the Lady Jaguars in order in the top of the inning.

GCC led 5-2 to start the fourth inning, but JCC-Olean scored eight times in the frame on five hits to take a 10-5 lead.

The Lady Jaguars added to their lead in the fifth with two more runs, but GCC began to claw back. Rachel VanDuser delivered a run scoring ground out in the bottom of the fifth and Pursel came around to score after being hit by a pitch to get the Lady Cougars to within 12-7.

Foss got Genesee a run closer after scoring on an error in the sixth and Pursel pitched around a leadoff single in the top of the seventh to keep JCC-Olean off the board in their final at bat.

Trailing 12-8 and down to their final three outs, the Lady Cougars mounted another comeback. Gayton delivered a two-run single, Foss plated a run on a single and Lynch drove in a run on a double to tie the game at 12 apiece. Pursel then stepped to the plate and hustled out an infield single and saw the throw go wide of first base allowing Lynch to score the game winning run.

Hallett-Jonathan went 4-4 at the plate in game two and scored two runs. Foss was 2-3 with two walks, a run batted in and four runs scored and Gayton finished the game 2-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

Pursel battled for the win on the mound allowing 11 hits and striking out two in the game.

Genesee is now 5-10 overall on the season and will travel to Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

Photos: Local historians gather at GCC

By Howard B. Owens

Local history was on display at GCC today with history groups from Genesee County's villages, towns and museums gathering in the college's forum.

Visitors could see displays on history, view artifacts, buy books and gift items and learn directly from the people who know the most what our predecessors did in Western New York.

As part of the event, War of 1812 reenactors, the Genesee County Militia, Kellogg Company, offered lectures and demonstrations on what military life was back 100 years ago.

In the early 1900s, then-Governor Al Smith created the civic position of local historians. New York is the only state to declare preservation and dissemination of local history to be a public purpose. (source)

Gill scores game winner; Cougars win in 2OT

By Andrew Crofts

Jonathan Gill scored the game winning goal 2:17 into the second overtime on Friday afternoon, to help the No.3 Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team defeat No.2 Community College of Baltimore County Essex, 15-14.

Genesee trailed 6-3 after the first quarter but rallied to score the only four goals of the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead into the half. Gill started the scoring in the second period with a goal, his second of the game, just one minute in to get GCC back to within two. Pete DiLaura followed just ten-seconds later after he collected a ground ball off of the faceoff and walked in on the Essex defense to get Genesee to within 6-5. Christian Reiller tied the game at six with his 28th goal of the season before Saxon Weil gave the Cougars a 7-6 lead with just under a minute left in the opening half.

Essex responded early in the second half and scored four consecutive goals in the first eight minutes of the third quarter to take a 10-7 lead. The Cougars then took advantage of a three-minute Essex penalty and scored three man-up goals to tie the game at ten. Luke Grahnert started the scoring and Marcus Palvino and Gill followed. Reiller then gave Genesee back the lead at the 12:25 mark before Essex tied it at 11 apiece with less than a minute to play in the third.

Essex broke the tie early in the fourth quarter, scoring 3:04 into the final period, but Gill got the goal back just ten-seconds later for GCC to tie the game at 12. Essex then took advantage of a Genesee penalty and scored a man-up goal at the 4:48 mark to take a 13-12 lead. After five-minutes of scoreless play, Reiller scored his third goal of the game to tie it at 13 with just over five-minutes to play. The Cougars took the lead at the 11:41 mark when Reiller assisted Nick Gray with his 11th goal of the season, but with just four-seconds remaining and a man-up, Essex tied the game at 14-14 to send it into overtime.

In the first overtime session, goalkeeper Brady Lawrence came up with one of a number of big saves on the afternoon to keep Genesee alive. The Cougars nearly ended the game with less than a minute to play in the extra session, but a Reiller shot went just over the top of the CCBC-Essex net.

(Goalkeeper Brady Lawrence comes up with a big save in overtime to keep GCC alive)

 

In the second overtime, both teams had a chance before Gill collected a ground ball rebound and beat the Essex goalkeeper to give Genesee the win.

Gill finished with five goals and one assist and Lawrence made 23 saves including four in the overtime sessions.

Reiller added three goals and three assists, Palvino finished with two goals and five assists, Grahnert also added an assist with his goal and Chris Rabung, Tyler Skowronski, Gray, DiLaura and Weil all finished with a goal apiece.

Johnny Astrologo led the team on defense with five takeaways and four ground balls.

(The GCC men's lacrosse team rushes the field to celebrate Jonathan Gill's game winning goal in the second overtime to life the Coguars over CCBC-Essex)

 

The Cougars improve to 9-1 on the season and will travel to Mercyhurst North East on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. start.

Authentically Local