As a new-look lineup still got comfortable working with each other in game conditions, the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team continued to take early lumps.
Facing Cazenovia on Tuesday at Solvay’s Earl Hadley Stadium, Skaneateles saw too much of Kara Cannizzaro, and paid for it with a 14-11 defeat.
Frigid, winter-like conditions prevailed, but it didn’t bother either Laker offense in the first half. Cazenovia, who lost a close Class C semifinal to Skaneateles in 2008, kept answering every time Skaneateles thrust at them, and edged into an 8-7 lead before halftime.
During the second half, Skaneateles struggled more with its attack as Cazenovia’s defenders got more aggressive and forced more mistakes.
Meanwhile, on the other end, Kara Cannizzaro continued to dominate. Bound for the University of North Carolina next year, Cannizzaro put home seven goals, negating the 11 saves goalie Heather Mullen put up.
For its part, Skaneateles had Katherine Pille score three times, with Maddy Morrissey scoring twice. Lindsay Angelillo, Carly Davis, Shelby McNeilly, Grace Kelly, Aly Davis and Alison Steckel each had one goal as Diane Vitkus earned an assist.
Two nights later, also at Solvay, the Lakers faced Westhill, another prime challenger. And once again, a lead slipped away as the Warriors toppled Skaneateles 11-10.
Skaneateles concentrated its defense on keeping Westhill stars like Annie O’Connor and Sam Marshall. On that front, it worked, as they managed just one goal apiece and Skaneateles inched into a 5-4 halftime lead.
However, Westhill found other threats, as Erika Eipp and Brenna Rainone each got three goals, pushing the Warriors in front in the late stages despite another great effort from Mullen, who had 20 saves.
By contrast, no one on the Lakers’ roster could do equal damage to Westhill, as Morrissey, Pille and Angelillo each had two goals and one assist. McNeilly, Steckel, Vitkus and Carly Davis got one goal apiece.
