The Wildcats, 23-1, got five goals from Brian Cost, four goals from Alex Bily and 18 saves from junior Dan McKeon, the game's most valuable player, to earn their most lopsided state championship win since a 12-goal blowout of Yorktown in 1987.

West Islip, which was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the state, was held scoreless during the decisive third quarter. West Genesee took a 6-4 halftime lead and bumped it out to 10-4 going into the final quarter.

"That was a fun game," said Wildcat senior Andrew Hanover, who finished with two goals and an assist. "We played our (fannies) off."

In the Class C state title game, Manhasset defeated Penn Yan Academy 13-5. In Class B, South Side High School of Rockville Centre defeated Corning East 12-9. Both games were also played at Hofstra.

It was all so routine for West Genesee, right down to the extreme buzzed haircuts lurking underneath the helmets of the Wildcats and the postgame dunking with the water bucket of head coach Mike Messere.

"This was nice," said Messere, who finishes his 29th season at the helm and improves his overall record to 603-36. "This team did a great job. They wouldn't be denied. They just didn't give up."

West Islip coach Scott Craig said the play of McKeon and West Genesee's dominance in ground balls (50-35) were critical. He said the Lions managed to get off a "decent number of shots (28)," but could not convert enough opportunities.

"When they needed a goal, they got a goal," Craig said. "They're a little more disciplined than we are. They were able to control the ball in better situations, and kept their field spread. There were a lot of loose ball situations where we converged three guys on the ball and didn't come up with it and we left people hanging on the backside."

That's whereCost particularly hurt West Islip. Hanging on the doorstep or swooping around the edges, he took a number of nice feeds and plunked them in the net. Twice in the first half, West Genesee made sophomore goalie Sal Barcia pay for wandering too far out of the cage. Cost slammed home an easy goal during the second quarter off an assist from Jake Moulton, catching Barcia out of position and giving West Genesee a 5-3 lead. The Lions would never get closer than two goals the rest of the game.

"I love that kid. He's great," Hanover said of Cost. "Every time I pass him the ball, he puts it in the net."

"We had to step up, play our game," Cost said. "Five goals doesn't mean anything. The W is all that matters."

To hear Messere tell it, the Wildcats were an awful collection of defenders and undisciplined players to start the season, that grew into a deserving champion. He said West Genesee surrendered uncharacteristic batches of goals weeks ago. Instead of giving up an acceptable number such as four goals, the Wildcats were getting burned for 14 goals, 10 goals, 8 goals, 9 goals.

McKeon has been the glue all season, Messere said. And while he played, according to the coach, his usual fine game, it was the play of the long-stick defenders that proved a big difference on Saturday.

The Wildcats held the West Islip midfield tandem of Dan Galasso and Troy Turri to a combined two goals and one assist. Messere thought defender Mark Keida played his finest game.

"Mark played just out of this world," Messere said. "He was knocking guys down, intercepting passes, picked up ground balls, made some real in tight (passes), all through the game. He just played out of his mind."

"They're a good team," Galasso said. "They've been through this before. This is our first time in the state championship. They know what the pressure is like. I'm not saying it matters, but they know what it's about. They came to win it and we didn't."

West Genesee,whose only losses the last two seasons have been to Fayetteville-Manlius, has yet to win four straight titles. Messere is intrigued with the idea.

"I'd like to have 20 in a row," he said.

Messere added he won't be around long enough as head coach to try.

So any chance Saturday might have been Messere's final game with the Wildcats?

"I don't know," he said. "We're doing it a year at a time. It's hard work."

On Saturday, the Wildcats made it looked awful easy. West Genesee3342- 12 West Islip1302- 6 West Genesee (23-1): Alex Bily 4-0, Brian Cost 5-0, Mark Cometti 0-1, Tom Donahoe 0-2, Andrew Hanover 2-1, Jake Moulton 1-2, Tim Griffin 0-1, Brian Stanton 0-1. Goalie: Dan McKeon (18 saves, 28 shots). West Islip (22-1): Kevin Federico 1-1, Dan Galasso 0-1, Jeff Flandina 1-0, Troy Turri 2-0, Matt Sullivan 1-1, Frank Bacchi 1-0. Goalies: Sal Barcia and Mike Murtha (13 saves, 36 shots).

© 2004 The Post-Standard. Used with permission.