As it inched toward the high drama of the Section III Class B playoffs later this month, the Skaneateles girls soccer team first had to negotiate some smaller dramas, but did so through a defense that did not allow anything.
That included last Tuesday night’s game against Jordan-Elbridge, a contest where the Lakers controlled the flow of play, but still had to work all 80 minutes to beat the Eagles 1-0.
Molly Wood picked up the only goal Skaneateles needed in the first half, taking a pass from Rachel Hurley and depositing the ball past J-E goalie Kali Kimak and into the net.
For her part, Kimak stopped everything else, 11 saves in all. Skaneateles, by contrast, did not have as much pressure, but still ably protected the one-goal margin as, in the net, Mary Buck recorded four saves for the shutout.
Back home to face Solvay, the Lakers did a much better job of attacking, and it produced a 4-0 shutout of the Bearcats.
From the opening kickoff, Skaneateles pounced, never letting Solvay goalie Julie Gardner rest. That led to 19 shots, and a pair of conversions each half to complete a regular-season sweep.
With Solvay so concentrated on Tate Green (who had three goals in their first encounter), Catie Woodruff stepped up, scoring twice and adding an assist. Wood and Nicole Beatson also scored, with Green, Ali Pietropoli and Kristen Pille each getting one assist.
This busy stretch continued Thursday, at Hannibal, where Skaneateles put together its third consecutive shutout, taking out the Warriors 2-0.
Wasting little time, the Lakers turned to Green. Having not scored all week, Green made up for that by putting home both of the Skaneateles goals to put her side in front, while Wood and Pietropoli earned one assist apiece.
Though the Lakers did not get anything more, the defense was capable enough, overcoming possible fatigue by holding Hannibal to three direct shots.
A pair of tough road tests – at Bishop Ludden Monday and at Cazenovia Friday – still remains for Skaneateles (10-2-2) before it finds out where it will be seeded for the sectional tournament.
