Only a fourth-quarter drought in its April 7 game against Skaneateles has kept the Cazenovia boys lacrosse team from starting the season with a five-game win streak.

The Lakers improved to 4-1, even though it moved Tuesday’s home game with Jordan-Elbridge to Chittenango High School’s turf.

In the new setting, the faster surface seemed to agree with the Lakers, who handed the 4-0 Eagles its first defeat in a 9-4 decision.

J-E, 4-18 a season ago, is a vastly improved squad — but it was playing without top forward Joey Poppe, who injured his knee in a March 31 win over Watertown.

Even so, the Eagles had the ball for most of the first quarter, leading to a string of attacks on the Cazenovia net after Coleman Koesterer’s goal 1:19 into the contest.

But defenders David Chapman, Chris Nourse and Daly Harris protected the net well, and goalie Patrick Cooney made some key stops on his way to 11 saves for the afternoon. The quarter ended 1-0 in the Lakers’ favor, and the Eagles never really recovered from all those missed opportunities.

During the course of the second period, Cazenovia took charge. It broke open a 2-1 game when Brian Regan and Koesterer scored 17 seconds apart, and Brandon Moyer added his own goal in the last minute of the half to make it 5-1 at the break.

From there, the Lakers stayed out in front by maintaining its strong defense and spreading the goals around. Koesterer finished with a hat trick, with Moyer and Brian Bartlett each finding the net twice and Justin Hubbard joining Regan in the one-goal column.

Cazenovia looks to improve to 5-1 Saturday, at Homer.