In no way could the Cazenovia boys lacrosse team feel comfortable after surviving a tough, physical 7-6 win at Skaneateles on April 17.
This was just the first of two big road tests, for on Thursday the Lakers made its way back down Route 20, this time to face 3-1 LaFayette, who was no. 15 in the state Class C rankings, three spots behind Skaneateles.
Here, Cazenovia had seven goals by halftime, and then had to go much further to make sure it outlasted the Lancers in a 16-13 decision.
In the end, the first quarter proved decisive. LaFayette was unable to generating anything against a fired-up Laker defense, and the visitors crawled its way to a 3-0 lead.
Even as the Lancers’ attack woke up in the second period, the Lakers matched it, so it was 7-4 at the break. Cazenovia stretched out the margin to 12-7 by the end of the period, making it able to withstand a fierce Lancers charge in the late going.
Ryan Cook, with five goals and four assists, and Connor Cannizzaro, with four goals and four assists, again set the pace. Brad Nardella, quiet against Skaneateles, roared here with four goals of his own, plus an assist.
Matt Donovan scored twice, while Oliver Gates and Alan Baldwin had the other tallies. Goalie Trevor Cross picked up 12 saves. Nate Beresovoy (four goals, four assists) and Matt Beebe (three goals, three assists) led LaFayette’s efforts.
Cazenovia returned home Saturday to face Jordan-Elbridge, and this time got to relax a bit while still unleashing plenty of offense in a 20-3 romp over the Eagles that made it 26 wins in a row.
A close contest broke open when the Lakers piled up 10 goals in the second quarter alone to build a 14-3 edge, and it proceeded to blank J-E in the second half, even after the starters had left.
Cannizzaro scored three times, adding three assists. Nardella led with four goals, while Henry Mann stepped up for a three-goal hat trick and Donovan managed two goals and three assists.
Alex Sullivan also scored twice as Cook, with a goal and two assists, could afford to assume a supporting role. Even defender Barclay Talbot found the net as Baldwin, Gates and Connor Race also got goals, with Clay Goris and Jake Falge adding assists.
When the Lakers host Tully on Monday, it is the team’s fourth game in eight days. After that, it will get to rest a bit, with only one game in the ensuing eight days, a Friday trip to Manlius-Pebble Hill.
