A stretch of two defeats and one tie since a 10-0 start threatened to undo all that the Skaneateles girls soccer team had accomplished early this season.
And the skid nearly lasted longer, as the state Class B no. 8-ranked Lakers found itself tied with Altmar-Parish-Williamstown last Tuesday night at Hyatt Stadium before a late surge restored some order and produced a 4-1 victory over the Rebels.
There was a fear that Skaneateles had peaked on Sept. 24, when it stunned Marcellus 1-0, for what followed were losses to Nardin Academy (in the finals of the Lewiston-Porter Tournament) and Cazenovia, plus a 0-0 draw with Westhill.
APW, with its 4-6 record, would get on the board late in the first half with a goal from Jena Booth, answering Molly Wood’s earlier goal that was assisted by Tate Green and creating a 1-1 halftime deadlock.
But Skaneateles improved in all phases of the game in the second half. Showing more patience while on the attack, Skaneateles started to create more open looks, and that led to three consecutive goals – two straight from Catie Woodruff, the other from Nicole Beatson, who had an assist on Woodruff’s go-ahead tally.
Defensively, Skaneateles, anchored by Lauren Goodchild and Taylor Woodruff, found its top form, too, shutting down most of the Rebels’ chances as goalie Sophie Kush only had to make four saves.
This was the Lakers’ last regular-season home game, though it is sure to host a Section III playoff contest later this month. Still, its remaining two scheduled contests were on the road.
And that included Thursday’s visit to Hannibal, where the Lakers got another scare, the 5-7 Warriors leading a large portion of the game and pushing it into overtime before Skaneateles prevailed 2-1.
Gabby Griffin’s first-half goal had the Warriors in front, 1-0, going to the break, and with Hannibal goalie Spencer Kenney putting up 18 saves, the chances of another painful Laker defeat went up.
However, Skaneateles did manage to pull even in the second half and used a goal in the first of two 10-minute overtime periods to inch in front. Green and Tori Field put in the goals, while Elizabeth Lane and Mackie Kerr each picked up assists. Molly Rourke, playing most of the game in the net in place of Kush, finished with seven saves.
A week would pass before Skaneateles (12-2-1) would finish the regular season at Jordan-Elbridge, giving everyone a chance to rest and recuperate, and then get a fair amount of practice before the stakes increase with the Section III Class B playoffs.
