Staying busy, the Cazenovia boys lacrosse team would play three times in five days, and was sailing along until an overtime defeat temporarily stopped the momentum.
Despite a ferocious comeback in last Thursday’s game against Christian Brothers Academy at Nottingham High School, the Lakers lost in that extra period to the Brothers 10-9.
For much of the wet, windy evening, it looked like Cazenovia wouldn’t even come close to OT. Bottled up and frustrated by the work of an inspired CBA defense, the Lakers went more than 13 minutes without a goal at one point, and trailed 5-2 at the break.
The deficit had grown to 8-3 when, right at the end of the third quarter, Justin Hoffman intercepted a clearing pass and scored to beat the buzzer.
That single play seemed to breathe life into the Lakers, who roared back in the fourth quarter on goals from Hoffman, Brett Axelson and Seth Goldacker.
CBA built the margin to 9-7, but Hoffman struck again with 2:34 to play to cut the margin to one, and when he put home a rebound with 38.5 seconds left in regulation, the game was tied, 9-9, and headed for overtime.
Despite playing OT for the third time in eight days (it had lost the previous two to Skaneateles and Marcellus), CBA won the faceoff and controlled the ball. Just 1:09 into the extra period, the Brothers won it when Nate Frechette charged in from the left side and fired the ball past Ben Bowers into the net.
In last Tuesday’s home game against Bishop Ludden, the Lakers survived the wind and chilly conditions to dominate the Gaelic Knights in a 14-4 verdict.
Among other things, the Laker defenders shut out Ludden in both the first and third periods. Combined with a steady and balanced attack that stayed productive, it allowed Cazenovia to jump out to an 11-2 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Brett Axelson and Sean Cannizzaro each had three goals, with Axelson adding two assists. Sam Lewis and Mike McGinnis both found the net twice, while Chad Dorrance and Seth Goldacker had matching totals of one goal and two assists. Joe Nardella and Justin Hoffman also matched each other, with one goal and one assist.
Right after the CBA loss, the Lakers played again Saturday, against Onondaga, and quickly returned to winning form, whipping the Tigers 17-5.
Quite unlike the CBA game, Cazenovia made sure it started well, pushing in eight goals in the first quarter alone and leading 11-3 by halftime.
Axelson finished with four goals and three assists, with Cannizzaro and Sam Lewis both gaining four goals and one assist. Hoffman, Nardella, McGinnis, Ben Dussault and Will Ellers each had one goal, with Goldacker gaining three assists.
Now at 7-3, Cazenovia has three more games this week, going to Tully and East Syracuse-Minoa, with a home date against Westhill in between on Thursday afternoon.
