An unusual bit of scheduling had the Cazenovia girls soccer team playing the same opponent, Syracuse United, twice in the span of less than a week, with no opponent in between.
Still, the games were far different from each other. Back on Sept. 29 at the Sean Googin Sports Complex, Saige Ackermann earned a three-goal hat trick in a 4-1 decision, but five days later it was a more balanced effort as the Lakers again defeated Syracuse, this one a 4-0 shutout.
Ackermann did find the net again, but only once. Three others – Maddy Gavitt, Megan Henderson and Kirsten Underwood – also found the net, with Gavitt and Underwood also credited for assists. Hannah Matteson stopped all seven shots she faced.
Back home on Thursday night, Cazenovia took apart Pulaski 9-0, and even though it more than doubled its production from the Syracuse win, it still kept things balanced as five different players – Ackermann, Underwood, Gavitt, Henderson and Emily Reff – netted the first five Lakers goals.
Later in the game, Ackermann would tack on two more goals, giving her 22 for the season and yet another hat trick, while Henderson netted her second goal and Brenna Hughes found the net. Underwood, Ackermann and Gavitt had one assist apiece as the Lakers improved its overall record to 8-4.
Chittenango also played Thursday night, going on the road to take the measure of state Class B no. 2-ranked Westhill. What the Bears found was a fast, potent and athletic Warriors team far too difficult to contain as it took a 6-0 defeat.
Ava Dardaris, under constant assault, made nine saves, but the Chittenango goalie also gave up two goals apiece to Westhill’s Jayanna Monds and Morgan Elmer, with Erica Gangemi and Megan O’Reilly getting the other goals.
This followed last Monday’s battle with Christian Brothers Academy, where the Bears pushed the Brothers to overtime, but took a 3-2 defeat when it surrendered a goal in the first extra period after the two sides had scoring exchanges in each half.
Ally Shoemaker and Jessica Shepard had the Bears’ goals, with Morgan Shoemaker and Kaiden Williams earning assists. Ava Dardaris earned eight saves, but couldn’t keep everything out as Amanda Winn scored twice for CBA and Katy Stanard had the other goal.
The loss to Westhill left Chittenango at 6-7 going into the last week of the regular season, where it faces Phoenix and Marcellus. Cazenovia, who is 8-4 overall, also takes on Marcellus next week in between games against Solvay and Liverpool.
