The split of the Onondaga High School League’s Liberty division into National and American divisions had one negative consequence for the Skaneateles girls soccer team.
Instead of getting two matches against key league rivals Marcellus and Westhill, the Lakers only play them once, and its lone meeting with the Mustangs takes place Tuesday night, with both sides undefeated and knowing that a possible rematch loomed down the road in the Section III playoffs.
Before all that, the Lakers had two more routine league contests to attend to, beginning with last Tuesday’s 7-0 romp over Phoenix at Hyatt Stadium.
Skaneateles took 20 direct shots, and had a 4-0 edge by halftime. Despite Phoenix goalie Brianna Squier recording 13 saves, the Lakers kept adding to its margin.
Tate Green and Nicole Beatson both scored twice, with Green adding an assist. Molly Wood contributed one goal and one assist as Elizabeth Lane and Reneah Campbell also notched single goals. Hannah Powers earned an assist, too.
Two days later, Skaneateles stayed at home to face Bishop Ludden, and a quick start was all the Lakers needed to turn back the Gaelic Knights in a 3-0 decision to make it eight victories in a row, seven of them shutouts.
All of the goals came in the first half. Solving Ludden goalkeeper Gemma O’Kane, Skaneateles had Wood, Beatson and Campbell each take turns putting in goals, with Catie Woodruff getting credit for a pair of assists.
Though O’Kane blanked the Lakers in the second half and got 13 saves, none of her Ludden teammates could turn that situation into a chance to catch up, thwarted by an improved Laker defense, anchored by Lauren Goodchild and Taylor Woodruff, and by goalie Sophie Kush, who stopped all 10 shots she faced.
Aside from the Marcellus showdown, the Lakers also have to look forward to a trip to the Niagara Falls area next weekend (Sept. 27-28) to play in the Lewiston-Porter Tournament.
