A single game – and a late winning opportunity squandered in a 2-1 defeat to Albany Academy on Nov. 22 – gave the Skaneateles girls ice hockey team plenty of motivation as it worked through a 10-day break before a busy first week of December.

When play resumed last Monday night, the Lakers did a bit better as it ventured north to Alexandria Bay, playing the Purple Ghosts to a 2-2 tie.

Skaneateles took a 1-0 lead in the first period, only to have Alex Bay catch up in the second period with goals from Hayley Aubertine and Kyleigh Prance.

By this point, the Lakers’ Caroline McGuigan had scored once and assisted on Abbie Kuhns’ tally, and went after more in the third period and overtime.

Both times, though, the Purple Ghosts turned them away, maintaining the tie as Kayla McCabe made the difference, turning away 32 of 34 shots. By contrast, Skaneateles goaltender Amanda Lupo recorded just 16 saves.

Now another road trip beckoned, as Skaneateles went further north for a weekend of games against Massena and Canton.

It didn’t start well, as the Lakers, facing Massena, took a 4-2 defeat to the Red Raiders. Once Massena moved out in front 2-1 in the first period, it never got caught, blanking Skaneateles in the second period and converting once more even as the visitors tried to rally late.

Grace Schnorr and Riley Donahue both found the net for the Lakers. McGuigan, Sophie Kush and Lynn Copeland each had one assist as Lupo and Maria McLean split goalie duties, making 11 saves between them.

Then, in Saturday’s game against Canton, Skaneateles finally broke into the win column, prevailing in a 2-1 decision.

They were 0-0 until the second period, when the Lakers notched both of its goals. Copeland and Riley Donahue earned those goals, while Madison Singler, Morgan Matthews and Mallory Kovacs got credit for assists.

Up 2-0 going to the final period, Skaneateles had to hang on as Canton got on the board, but could not pull back even, despite a flurry of chances. Lupo had her best outing of the season in goal, stopping 26 of the 27 shots she faced.

In the Upstate New York Girls Hockey League, there’s a point system. A regulation win is worth three points, an overtime win two points, a tie 1 ½ points and an overtime defeat one point. Only a defeat in regulation fails to earn points.

Skaneateles is part of the four-team Section III division with Alex Bay, Oswego and Ithaca. The Section VII division includes Lake Placid, Albany Academy, Beekmantown and Saranac Lake, while the Section X division features Massena, Canton, Potsdam, St. Lawrence and Salmon River.

The Lakers would go to Ithaca on Wednesday night, looking for back-to-back wins, before a weekend homestand at Austin Ice Pavilion that includes a Friday rematch with Canton and a Saturday clash with St. Lawrence.