While the Skaneateles ice hockey team would enjoy any victory it attains, Tuesday night’s 4-2 conquest of Cazenovia at Allyn Arena had to be particularly sweet.
Three times last winter, the two Laker sides had met. Each time, Cazenovia prevailed as it made an undefeated run to the state Division II championship.
Granted, many Cazenovia stars, like Sean Cannizzaro, Sam Lewis, John Greacen and Mason Powell, have left the scene. But there was no doubt that Skaneateles wanted payback against Cazenovia, whatever form it took.
And in front of the a loud home crowd, Skaneateles would deliver. The two sides traded goals in the first period before Scott Longtin beat Cazenovia’s new goalie, Joey Vecchiarelli, giving Skaneateles a 2-1 lead.
It got even better in the second period, as Skaneateles expanded the margin to 4-1. By now, Brendan Major had recorded three assists, anchoring an attack where Jake Cooney, Taylor Haberstock and Tyler Stanton joined Longtin in the goal-scoring column. Jon Rogalia and Owen Kuhns gained assists, too.
For the rest of the task, Skaneateles turned to its defense. Though Cazenovia got a third-period goal, it would inch no closer as Trevor Diamond kept cool between the pipes, stopping 27 of the 29 shots he faced.
With that win, Skaneateles improved to 4-0-3 overall and stayed tied for first place in Division II with CBA/J-D, who edged Auburn 2-1 on the same night at Onondaga Nation Arena. Both the Lakers and Brothers have seven points.
To hang on to that spot, though, the Lakers would need to beat Oswego Friday night at Allyn Arena.
And the Buccaneers prevented that from happening, moving in front in the game’s middle stages and prevailing by the same 4-2 margin Skaneateles had against Cazenovia.
They were tied, 1-1, through one period. Led by Josh Sova, Cody Mariano (three assists each) and Tyler Grimshaw (two goals), Oswego moved out to a 3-2 edge in the second period.
The Bucs kept the Lakers off the board the rest of the way after those early goals from Major and Stanton. Jim Rodgers and Gunnar Beck-Andersen each had one assist, as did Major. Diamond finished with 21 saves.
As this went on, the Skaneateles girls ice hockey team lost a narrow 4-3 decision to Salmon River at the Austin Park Pavilion.
Claire Michel led the Lakers with one goal and one assist, with Sophie Kush and Erin Ganley also finding the net. Morgan Matthews and Sarah Sauda contributed assists as goalie Amanda Lupo finished with 18 saves.
The Skaneateles girls play at Alexandria Bay Wednesday night, just as the boys Lakers finish its three-game homestand against Clinton before a Friday trip to New Hartford.
