The Canandaigua Braves could have scheduled a potential laugher among their current stretch of non-league boys lacrosse games.
Instead, the top-ranked Class B team in the state will risk its New York-best 25-game win streak when the Braves (5-0) host Corning East (3-0) of Section IV at noon Saturday at Evans Field.
“Any chance we have, we try to play the best competition possible,” Canandaigua coach Ed Mulheron said. “There’s not many teams a whole lot better than Corning East.”
The Trojans have won four state titles, and with more than 700 wins have been the marquee program in Section IV for decades. Winners of 25 sectionals titles, the Trojans are ranked fourth among Class C schools.
“They are really solid,” Mulheron said. “They are not going to beat themselves. They are going to get good goalie play and, overall, just fundamentally sound.”
Mulheron calls Corning East senior goalie Tyler White “one of the best goalies in the country.” White was a major factor in Corning East’s 9-6 win over Canandaigua last season, and has three of those defensemen in front of him again.
Canandaigua doesn’t seem to be in rebuild mode either.
Brandon Thomson (11 goals) and Tom LaCrosse (11) are the leading goal-scorers for Canandaigua, while four other Braves have at least five. Thomson is a game-time decision with an ankle injury.
The Braves edged a strong Pittsford team, 7-5, in their opener then handled Rush-Henrietta, Gates Chili and Penfield.
“We graduated a lot of players,” Mulheron said. “There’s a lot of room for growth.
“We are just trying to find out what we can be, where we all fit in the scheme.”
Top returnees:
Deven Alves (sr. attack); Adam Fingar (sr. defense); Tom LaCrosse (sr. midfield); Gannon Osborn (sr. midfield); Nick King (sr. goalie).
Key newcomers: Mark Greer (jr. midfield); Nick Smith (jr. defense); Matt Scharr (soph. midfield).
Outlook: The Braves return a bevy of talent at all positions from last year’s state championship team. Alves (University of Maryland Baltimore County), Fingar (Hartford), LaCrosse (Penn State), Osborn (Marist) and King (Penn State) have all committed to play at Division I college programs next year. Brandon Thomson (Mercyhurst), a senior attackman, scored 35 goals last season.
Mulheron also expects big things from Adam Knapton, who scored 20 goals in limited time. The Braves hope their depth will ease the loss of three starting defenders to graduation.
