Even with an all-weather field, the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team could not avoid having to postpone last Tuesday night’s home game against Onondaga.
However, all had cleared out by Friday, when the state Class C no. 8-ranked Lakers squared off with no. 7-ranked Tully and put together a 14-11 win over the Black Knights.
Tully proved quite a difficult team to put away, despite the fact that Skaneateles steadily built an 11-6 lead through a fast-paced first half. Amanda Briggs led the Black Knights with five goals and one assist as it ate away at the Lakers’ margin in the homestretch.
Still, Skaneateles finished in front as Erin Callahan had a part in half the scoring plays, earning four goals and three assists. Shelby McNeilly had two goals and three assists, with Carly Davis managing three goals and one assist. Emma Ford and Casey Van Slyke also had two-goal outings as Dianne Vitkus contributed a single goal.
In many ways, the Lakers proved more impressive than at any other time this season during its 11-9 defeat to Farmingdale back on April 23 on Long Island.
Farmingdale is the reigning state Class A champions, and had every right to figure it could devour Skaneateles without heavy effort. Instead, an exciting first half saw the Lakers stay within one, 8-7, despite a frantic pace, and it stayed in the game all the way to the end.
Vitkus, with four goals, and Davis, with three goals and one assist, accounted for most of the offense. Van Slyke and McNeilly also scored, with Callahan adding an assist.
Skaneateles follows games against Bishop Ludden and LaFayette by playing Jordan-Elbridge Saturday at 6 p.m. at Onondaga Community College. This is part of the “Stick it to Cancer” LAX DAY festivities, with the boys game between Skaneateles and LaFayette preceding the girls game and the JV girls to follow it.