Now the Cazenovia field hockey team is three-for-three against Section III Class A opponents in 2012, all of it done within a 10-day span and all of it on the road.
That effort climaxed in last Tuesday night’s visit to Rome Free Academy, where the undefeated Lakers were pushed into overtime for the second time this fall, only to prevail again by a 3-2 margin.
This Class A tour had started Sept. 29, when Cazenovia held off Fayetteville-Manilus 2-1 in the finals of the O’Connor Classic at Camden. It continued a week later when late goals by Nicole Chiarello and Jessy Silfer produced a 2-0 shutout of defending sectional champion Liverpool.
And now it was RFA’s turn, in a game pushed back a month from its original Sept. 8 date due to bad weather.
Despite a 4-7 record, the Black Knights kept right with the Lakers throughout regulation. They played to a 1-1 first-half draw, and again traded goals in the second half, the two goals the most Cazenovia’s defense has surrendered in any game this season. RFA’s Meghan McCormick had one goal and assisted on the other, by McKenzie Smith.
But when it went to the seven-on-seven overtime format, the Lakers, just as it had done at East Syracuse-Minoa on Sept. 19, put in the decisive goal. Silfer, Emily Willard and Sarah Willard each scored, while Chiarello gained an assist. Each of Lauren Devine’s five saves proved important.
So ended Cazenovia’s four-game road swing, as less than 24 hours later it finally found itself back at Burton Street, facing Cato-Meridian as it resumed Onondaga High School League play.
Not showing any fatigue, the Lakers bashed the Blue Devils, 9-0, and by doing so reached the mark of 80 consecutive league victories. Glad to be home, Cazenovia scored six times in the first half and took 26 shots overall.
In particular, Rachel McLaughlin liked playing Cato, earning a career-best four goals as Silfer set her own career mark with four assists. Chiarello, Ashley Kent, Sarah Willard and Emma Willard each scored, too, with Hannah Light-Olson and Holly Gamlen also earning assists.
On Friday, Cazenovia played at Port Byron and ran the league win streak to 81 in a row, using a late sureg to push past the Panthers 3-0.
Port Byron maintained some hope through a scoreless first half as goalie Amanda Lupo stopped everything on her way to 19 saves. But the Lakers broke through in the latter stages as Silfer, Chiarello and Emma Willard each scored, with Sarah Willard joining Chiarello in the assist column.
Still, the Lakers aren’t clear, as on Monday it hosts an East Syracuse-Minoa side that took them to overtime in September. The Lakers also host Cortland next Friday, with a visit to Homer in between as the regular season comes to an end.
