Regardless of the opposition, things got tight for the Cazenovia girls lacrosse team as it crossed the midway point of the regular season and endured a stretch where it had to play four times in six days – and those games were decided by a combined five goals.
In an April 28 non-league game against General Brown at the Sean Googin Sports Complex, the Lakers blew a big lead late in regulation, but survived to beat the Lions 12-11 in overtime.
Cazenovia bolted to a 9-4 first-half edge. GB made up all of it, though, as Haleigh Flint and Emily Amell, with three goals each, led the rally, tying it 11-11.
So it went to a pair of three-minute overtime periods. Neither side scored in the first OT, but Caroline Franz did convert in the second extra period, and the Lakers held on from there.
All told, Franz had three goals and three assists, with Kayla Dorrance managing five assists to go with her lone tally. Becca Wheeler and Kristie Kleine each had two goals, while Jessy Slifer, Abbie McEntee and Emmajean Speer joined Dorrance with single goals.
Going to Tully two nights later to make up an April 23 weather postponement, the Lakers endured a horrendous start and nearly made it all the way back before taking a 13-11 loss to the Black Knights.
Unable to win draws or hang on to the ball, Cazenovia slipped into an 8-1 deficit by halftime as Allison Bolt (four goals, one assist) and Alexis Drumm (three goals, two assists) led Tully’s attack.
The Lakers regrouped at the break and tore right through the Black Knights’ defenses in the latter stages, almost catching up. Wheeler poured in five goals, while Colleen Dougherty scored three times. Dorrance again had a goal and four assists as Speer and Kline got the other goals.
Still, it was a defeat, leaving Cazenovia back at the .500 mark (5-5) as, 24 hours later, it had to go to LaFayette, where again it was close – and again Cazenovia lost, this time in a wild 18-17 affair.
With wet conditions, both sides found it difficult to stop the other from doing whatever it wanted on the offensive end.
For a time, this helped the Lakers as it edged to a 10-9 halftime lead. But the Lancers kept answering and inched out in front late behind the work of Emily Peebles, who had seven goals, and Cassley Jackowski, who added three goals and six assists.
Cazenovia’s attack was well-balanced. Wheeler and Franz each had three goals and two assists, while Kleine and Dougherty had their own three-goal hat tricks. Dorrance put up four assists to go with her lone tally as Speer got one goal and one assist. McEntee, Emily Willard and Jessie Matt also scored.
This busy stretch concluded Thursday, against Westhill at Solvay’s Earl Hadley Stadium, where the Warriors have relocated home games this spring while its artificial turf field is being constructed.
Accustomed to this trend of close contests, Cazenovia endured another one and, this time, came out on top by a 14-13 margin. They went 9-9 through the first half, and continued to trade goals the rest of the way until the Lakers inched in front.
Silfer, with three goals, matched the totals of Dougherty and Kleine, giving the Lakers some much-needed depth as Franz scored twice. Wheeler, Dorrance and Willard got the other goals, with Dorrance adding three assists. Each of Lauren Devine’s eight saves proved important.
What made that win more crucial for the Lakers (6-6) was that it stared at games next week against two megapowers, defending state Class C champion CBA and Skaneateles, not to mention Marcellus and Homer in a tough finish to the regular season.
