From the disappointment of its May 2 defeat to LaFayette, the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team reclaimed its winning form in a hurry against a pair of Division II neighbors.
In the first part, the Lakers allowed Bishop Ludden to hang around for a while last Tuesday night, then took over in the late stages to beat the Gaelic Knights 12-4.
Even though Skaneateles had a solid offensive showing in the first half, it let Ludden’s Brad Kirch pick up a hat trick, so it only led 7-4 at the break.
That’s when Kyle McQuiggan, Lex Johnson, Luke Sherman and the rest of the Lakers’ defense took charge, holding the Gaelic Knights without a goal the rest of the way and protecting Cal Winkleman and Garrett Navaroli, who combined for nine saves.
Dylan Ross had a season-best three goals for the Lakers. Patrick Emmer and Kyle Baier each found the net twice as Kevin Rice earned three assists. Kevin Castle, Nathan Hunt, Kyle Christine, Kelly Donigan and Tom Schoener each scored once, with Hunt and Donigan earning assists to boot.
Two nights later, Marcellus paid a visit, and the Lakers’ defense again stole the spotlight in a 9-2 victory over the Mustangs.
All Marcellus could get against the fierce Skaneateles resistance was one goal in each half, helped in no small part by Winkleman’s 10 saves. Only Matt McCaffer, with a goal and an assist (to Will Nolan), broke through against this wall.
Skaneateles spread its modest attack around, as Rice and Hunt each scored twice and Emmer earned three assists to go with his single goal. Schoener had one goal and one assist as Castle, Christine and Paul O’Donnell also took turns scoring.
Just before that LaFayette game, on April 30, Skaneateles had beat Manlius-Pebble Hill 22-2, putting up 20 goals in the first half alone.
Donigan, Rice and Hunt each scored three times, with Mike Richards, Castle, Ross and Christine notching two goals apiece. Emmer and O’Donnell each had one goal and two assists, with Schoener, Zach Brownlee and Steve Scuderi taking turns with goals.
