Right after the Skaneateles boys soccer team lost it second 2-1 decision of the season to defending Section III Class B champion Westhill on Sept. 26, it went away for nearly two weeks.
The 12-day late-season respite gave the Lakers plenty of time to practice, rest, recuperate and work on all the things that had gone wrong during a 6-5 start, knowing it had plenty of time to still make a serious championship push.
And when the refreshed Lakers did return for last Tuesday night’s game at Jordan-Elbridge, there was no rust, just a team sharp on the attack that overwhelmed the Eagles in a 7-2 victory.
Skaneateles decided matters early, withstanding J-E goals from Javier Wood and Logan Schwarting to roar to a 5-2 halftime edge, and then pulling further away in the latter stages.
Andrew Weiss, with two goals and one assist, led a deep, well-balanced attack. Sam Clymer also found the net twice, while Tyler Strods had a goal and two assists. Jack Van Slyke and Francis Lombardi managed single goals as Eli Goodell and Graham McCarthy picked up assists.
In back-to-back home games, Skaneateles continued to pick up momentum, starting Thursday night with a 6-1 romp over Phoenix at Hyatt Stadium where Jack Bailey would seize the spotlight.
It was Bailey pouring in the Lakers’ first two goals to give his side a quick advantage. When Phoenix cut the margin to 2-1 on Kyle Demo’s goal late in the half, Bailey helped the Lakers counter, assisting on Sam Duggan’s tally.
Not content with that 3-1 halftime lead, Skaneateles pulled further away in the second half, starting with Clymer getting a second assist on Strods’ lone goal of the night, and continuing when Bailey converted for the third time to earn his first varsity hat trick. Weiss put in the final goal thanks to Clymer’s third assist of the night.
In Saturday’s game against Solvay, the Lakers’ attack was sharp again, and spread its production around nicely in a 7-2 romp over the Bearcats.
Finding much success against an overmatched Solvay defense, Skanetaeles had a 5-1 lead by halftime, continuing to pull clear as six different players would score by game’s end.
Only Goodell got two goals, adding an assist. Clymer managed a goal and two assists, while Bailey and Strods both had one goal and one assist. Lombardi and Graham McCarthy also found the net as Mike Jorgensen contributed an assist.
And all of this leads to a big final week of the regular season. Skaneateles would visit Marcellus Tuesday night before returning home Friday to face Cazenovia.
