showdowns with Skaneateles and Westhill that loomed as the calendar turned from April to May.
And the Lakers achieved it during last Monday night’s visit to West Genesee. The unbeaten, state Class A no. 4-ranked Wildcats had not lost this season – until now, when a combination of timely goals and terrific defense helped Cazenovia pull off a 9-5 victory.
The Lakers had long sought a game with WG, but could not have realized that, when it did happen, it was the team’s sixth game in nine days. Given that, and given the power of the opponent, no one would have blamed Cazenovia if it put out a great effort, but made sure something was saved for the big games that lay straight ahead.
That didn’t happen. Instead, tied 2-2 after one quarter, Cazenovia turned the game in its favor by holding the Wildcats to a single goal in the next two periods while gaining a 6-3 lead.
It was all based on a zone defense that kept the Wildcats frustrated all night. T.J. Connellan, as the long stick, roamed in front of Eli Mitchell, Kevin Frega, Jake Shaffner and Adam Race, who were so good that goalie Brenden Whalen only had to make five saves.
With back-to-back goals in the second quarter, the Lakers moved out in front, and would stay there the rest of the way.Trailing 4-3 at halftime, the Wildcats got hurt by a third quarter where it again did a solid job of containment, yet got shut out and saw the margin grow to 6-3.
Twice, the Lakers scored in the fourth quarter. Twice, WG countered, but it never got closer than that three-goal margin, and Cazenovia put it away, getting two goals and two assists from Cole Willard, while Alex Hunt and P.J. Brown also scored twice.
Derek White had one goal and one assist, with Jake Stowell also earning a goal and Whalen getting credit for an assist. Tyler Shoults and Mike Fletcher had two goals apiece on the Wildcats’ side. Nick Cunningham earned the other goal, with Ryan McDonald adding an assist.
