For the second time this spring, the Cazenovia boys lacrosse team was pushed to overtime and stared at the end of its long win streak.
Once again, the Lakers were able to keep it going, as Connor Cannizzaro’s goal near the end of the first extra period gave his side a 9-8 victory over Skaneateles Friday at the Sean Googin Sports Complex.
So it’s now 33 wins in a row, and no one in this long streak has been tough to subdue as those other Lakers from Skaneateles, the last team to beat Cazenovia in April 2011.
When the two sides met this April 17 at Hyatt Stadium, visiting Cazenovia escaped with a 7-6 win, though that ended in regulation. The Lakers did go to overtime at Marcellus on April 5 and pulled it out, that time coming from behind to pull it out by the same 9-8 margin that would suffice again in the rematch with Skaneateles.
Since that first meeting, Skaneateles had struggled, its record dipping to 8-7. But it was catching Cazenovia at an ideal time, the hosts coming off a tough, physical game at CBA two nights earlier (won by a 9-6 margin) and going through Senior Day festivities, too.
Combine all that, and it led to a low-scoring first half. Cazenovia’s attack was well off its game, but its defense, led by Clay Goris, Barclay Talbot and Doyle Judge, kept Skaneateles from taking full advantage, with just one goal allowed in each period.
It went to the third quarter 2-2. With their teammates bottled up, Cazenovia’s top two scorers, Cannizzaro and Ryan Cook, took over, getting each of the goals in a 4-2 sprint in that period.
Yet even with a 6-4 lead going to the final period, Cazenovia could not quite hold on. Skaneateles pulled within 8-7 and pushed hard as the regulation clock wound down. With eight seconds left, Nate Scuder fed Steve Bright, who pushed a shot past Trevor Cross to tie it.
Now they went to a four-minute OT period. Cannizzaro, already with four goals and one assist as Cook notched the other three goals, worked around the field until he got the ball back. Then, with 20 seconds left in the OT, Cannizzaro, flashing open, put the decisive shot past Skaneateles goalie Ryan Higman.
For the day, Cazenovia goalie Trevor Cross had 10 saves, two less than Higman. Matt Donovan, Henry Mann and Alan Baldwin each assisted on the goals from Cannizzaro and Cook.
To attain an undefeated regular season, the Lakers still have to win at fast-closing Baldwinsville on Monday and at Homer (also ranked in the state Class C top 10) on Wednesday night.
