Trying to dig out of a 2-5 start, the Skaneateles girls soccer team passed the midway point of its regular season and still had a fair amount of struggles.

The Lakers were close throughout last Monday night’s home game against Solvay, but still could not finish on top, falling to the Bearcats 2-1.

Tori Field scored in the first half, off a feed from Lauren Goodchild, and Skaneateles played Solvay to a 1-1 halftime draw.

However, in the second half the Bearcats inched in front, staying there behind Chelsea Root’s eight saves, the same total as Laker goalie Mary Buck. Kylie Avery and Nicole Antonacci had Solvay’s goals.

The Lakers’ fortunes did not change Thursday, against state Class B no. 4-ranked Westhill, who endured the rain and mud to beat Skaneateles 4-1.

At times, some parts of Westhill’s field turned into puddles. That slowed up the Lakers, but the Warriors still used goals by Kelly Lippert and Kelly Ristoff to seize a 2-0 lead.

Skaneateles briefly threatened in the second half, pulling within 2-1 on Bridget Field’s unassisted goal, but the Warriors’ Brenna Rainone answered less than a minute later to restore the margin. Buck finished with 11 saves.

The Lakers are not home again until Thursday night, when it takes on Cazenovia, three days after a trip to meet main rival Marcellus.