Motivated by nearly upending unbeaten East Syracuse-Minoa on April 29, the Chittenango girls lacrosse team roared into May playing at a high level.
The Bears hosted Mexico last Monday night and did whatever it wanted on the offensive side, not letting up until it had beaten the Tigers 18-3.
It was already 11-3 by halftime, but Chittenango reinforced its hold by blanking Mexico in the second half as the margin kept growing.
Jenna Barber again proved impossible to stop, earning eight goals plus three assists. Kaitlin Antelmi scored three times, adding an assist as Shannen Sweeney and Laura Lang each got two goals and one assist. Brianna Schiedo also found the net twice as Ali Barber got the other goal.
A day later, the Bears handled Fulton 13-7, ignoring the rain as it held the Red Raiders to two goals in the first half and never trailed.
Almost by themselves, Barber and Antelmi carried Chittenango’s attack. As Barber earned six goals and one assist, Antelmi stepped up, finding the net five times and adding two assists. Sweeney and Carlie Roman had the other goals.
Chittenango struck again on Thursday, toppling New Hartford 13-7 for its third win in four days. Much of that margin got built in the first half, when the Bears doubled the Spartans’ production and gained an 8-4 lead.
Barber nearly matched New Hartford by herself, earning six goals plus an assist. Antelmi and Schiedo both found the net twice, while Roman, Lang and Katie Putnam also scored. Sweeney contributed three assists.
As this went on, the frustrations of the Chittenango boys lacrosse team grew, as symbolized by last Tuesday’s 9-8 overtime defeat to Whitesboro.
Only 1-8 entering the contest, the Bears got off to a nice start, leading 4-2 after one period. But it didn’t score again until the third quarter, by which point the Warriors had caught up. They would stay even until the OT decision.
Luke Bicknell did put together a three-goal hat trick, while Steve Billington and Will Berry both found the net twice. Deven Phillips had one goal and one assist, with Jacob Smith also earning an assist. Adam Donner finished with 12 saves as Dan Barry led Whitesboro with four goals.
It wasn’t as close in Thursday night’s 13-0 loss to Homer. The Bears never got on the board as the Trojans raced to a 12-0 halftime lead. Donner had six saves. Beau Riley (three goals) and Aaron Zimmerman (one goal, five assists) led the Trojans’ efforts.
Chittenango’s boys play Fulton and Cortland next week as the girls Bears, with an 8-3 mark, meet Homer Tuesday and pay a Thursday visit to Clinton.
