Having survived a fair share of mid-season woes, the Cazenovia girls lacrosse team now finds itself ready to enter the Section III Class C playoffs.
A week after a key win over Marcellus, the Lakers again came up big at the Fenner Street complex Tuesday afternoon, pulling away in the late going to beat Jordan-Elbridge 16-13 to improve its record to 6-9, 5-7 in league play.
It was a fast-paced affair, both sides getting plenty of chances – and converting – in the first half. But Cazenovia did a bit more, and took a 9-8 lead to the break.
A vast improvement by the Lakers’ defense helped that lead grow in the second half, as did Lauren Devine stepping up to record most of her 11 saves.
Kaitlyn Button and Gabby Jaquith each had four goals, with Jaquith adding a pair of assists. Katie Kleine scored three times, adding an assist as Kendra Volz picked up two goals and one assist.
Becca Wheeler got a goal and two assists as Hillary Bullock and Colleen Dougherty also converted. For J-E, Amanda Wheeler had four goals and one assist, with Kelsey Youmell adding three goals and one assist.
For all this, Cazenovia still had to beat Clinton Thursday to lock up that playoff — which it did, easily taking out the Warriors 20-6.
Taking out the suspense early, the Lakers (7-9) accumulated 15 goals in the first half alone, again spreading things around as seven different players finished with multiple tallies.
Jaquith, with four assists to back up her three goals, led the way as Volz scored four times. Kleine, Dougherty, Bullock, Wheeler and Kristen Romagnoli each had two goals, with Kleine adding a pair of assists.
Button earned a goal and two assists as Emmajean Spear and Morgan Cowerd also scored. Mikaela Henn joined Dougherty and Bullock with single assists.
