Though frustrated with its 2-0 defeat to Skaneateles on Sept. 5, the Cazenovia boys soccer team did not let that disappointment linger too long.
In its very next outing, the Lakers went to Rome Free Academy last Tuesday night and had to work hard for 80 minutes, but still earned a 1-0 victory over the Black Knights.
Unlike the Skaneateles game, this one stayed 0-0 for quite a while, the flow of play even as neither side could take full advantage of the handful of scoring opportunities that popped up.
But in the second half, Cazenovia’s Tyler Modzeleski, subjected to all kinds of defensive attention from RFA’s back line, broke through and put a shot past Black Knights goalie Rowe Wheeler. And it held up behind five saves from Lakers netminder Garrett Clabeaux.
Not wanting similar suspense when it returned to OHSL Liberty division play at Solvay on Thursday night, the Lakers again leaned on Modzeleski, who produced a hat trick as Cazenovia blanked the Bearcats 4-0.
Unlike with RFA, the Lakers found the net with regularity during a 3-0 first half, and mostly that was due to Tyler Modzeleski, who didn’t stop until he had scored three times. Peter Burr had the other goal, with Ryan Modzeleski and Eli LaGorga each getting one assist.
When Cazenovia visited Marcellus on Saturday, it was playing its third road game in five days. But the constant travel didn’t bother the Lakers, who made it three wins in a row by battling its way past the Mustangs 2-1.
Marcellus got on the board with Ross Filtch recording a first-half goal. Still, Cazenovia kept it even, 1-1, and then moved out in front during the second half, getting goals from Burr and Tyler Modlezeski that would stand up.
