In no way would the Skaneateles girls soccer team get embarrassed by Marcellus this time around.
The rematch between the Lakers and state Class B no. 5-ranked Mustangs Monday night did not bear any resemblance to their first meeting early in the regular season. Even with an injury to goalie Mary Buck, Skaneateles hung in to the end of a 1-0 defeat.
Back when they had played on Sept. 12 at Arthur Hyatt Stadium, Marcellus had pulled far away from the Lakers in a 7-0 rout. Every Skaneateles player remembered that game, and was primed for the rematch.
For most of the first half, it stayed 0-0, the Lakers’ defense withstanding all of the Mustangs’ charges. Buck made seven saves, but in the 31st minute she got injured just as Jackie Epp was putting in the go-ahead goal for Marcellus.
Pressed into duty, Rachel Hurley was superb in the net, turning away all nine shots she faced the rest of the way. This gave Skaneateles ample time to pull even and force overtime, but it could get any of its six shots past Mustang goalie Margaret Choroser.
With little time to rest (and without Buck in the lineup), Skaneateles returned home Wednesday night and took a 4-1 loss to Cazenovia.
What was a 1-0 game at halftime blew open when Cazenovia forward Kristi Kleine constantly put shots past Hurley, ultimately earning a three-goal hat trick. Bridget Field got Skaneateles on the board in the late going as Hurley finished with eight saves.
Skaneateles would be off until next Thursday, when it visits Homer.
