Though a long season remains, the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team may have already endured its most difficult stretch.
A six-day test culminated Saturday with the Lakers measuring itself against defending state Class C champion Christian Brothers Academy. And though the Lakers lost, 9-7, to the Brothers, it left with more confidence that its best effort could lead to a different result later.
These two sides had, of course, met in the Section III Class C final one season ago, a game that was tied 9-9 late in regulation before CBA used a trio of late goals to pull it out, 12-9, on the way to its first-ever state title.
With many of the players from those teams back on both sides, the level of competition figured to remain high – and it did, despite cold and windy conditions.
CBA earned a majority of the draws, forcing Skaneateles into a defensive mode. But the Lakers’ back line held up quite well, forcing turnovers and getting a stellar effort from goalie Shannon Byrne, who recorded 12 saves.
All this helped Skaneateles stay within one, 4-3, in the first half, and keep pace after the break, too, but it just did not get enough chances to attack the CBA net. The Brothers’ goalie, Courtney Henderson, only had to make three saves.
Shelby McNeilly still managed three goals, while Nicole Beaston scored twice. Carly Davis had one goal and one assist as Emma Ford also scored and Alana Navaroli added an assist. CBA’s Marisa Romeo led both sides with four goals, adding an assist.
Skaneateles and CBA will get one more encounter, on May 16 at Alibrandi Stadium, which serves as the Lakers’ regular-season finale.
The tough stretch began last Monday night, with the Lakers trailing Westhill deep into the second half before a ramped-up attack in the late going produced a 14-10 victory over the Warriors.
Neither side scored for nearly 10 minutes at the start. Skaneateles then streaked to a 3-0 lead before Westhill got four straight goals of its own and, with another tally just before halftime, took a 5-4 lead to the break.
Early in the second half, the Skaneateles deficit grew to 7-5, but McNeilly and Ford took over from there, accounting for every goal in a 5-0 spurt (three from McNeilly, two from Ford) that put the Lakers ahead for keeps.
Overall, McNeilly had five goals, while Davis and Beaston both produced three-goal hat tricks. Ford offered ample support, with two goals and one assist, while Hannah Powers also scored.
For the most part, the Lakers’ defense did a solid job containing Westhill’s top players, holding Brenna Rainone to two goals and one assist and Maggie Tripodi to two goals and two assists. Shannon Byrne finished with eight saves.
This led to Thursday night’s non-league game at Fayetteville-Manlius, where the battle stretched into overtime before the Lakers fought past the Hornets 10-9.
Even though F-M had taken a 16-4 beating against West Genesee the night before, it stayed right with the Lakers throughout regulation, getting a terrific effort in the net from goalie Steph Rutkowski, who turned back 16 Skaneateles shots.
The exchange of goals never ceased until the three-minute OT periods, where the Lakers gained the lead and then used its defense to turn back every Hornet attempt to pull back even.
If there is perfect offensive balance, Skaneateles had it in this game. Five different players – Ford, Beaston, McNeilly, Davis and Navaroli – had two goals apiece. Each of Byrne’s 12 saves were important, too.
At 3-1 following the CBA defeat, Skaneateles would look to rebound Tuesday, at Homer, before a trip Thursday to Canandaigua.
