With everyone in the Division II American conference scrambling for consistency, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team had a chance to move to the top of the standings after a loss to Oswego and tie with Salmon River in the first week of December.
Back at Allyn Arena last Tuesday night, the Lakers hosted Cortland-Homer, and put together its best defensive effort of the season in the course of earning a 3-1 victory over the Golden Eagles.
Anchored by Josh Kuhns and Brett Singler, the Skaneateles front line frustrated Cortland-Homer throughout the first two periods, deflecting away opportunities and keeping the Golden Eagles off the board, ably protecting goalie Jarrett McDonald, who only had to make 15 saves.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ attack, while modest, did enough to get out in front. Raymond Falso got Skaneateles on the board in the first period with a goal assisted by Owen Kuhns. In the second period, off passes from Patrick Major and James Motyl, freshman Matt Benson found the net to make it 2-0.
Cortland-Homer stayed in it thanks to the work of goalie Ryan Gabriel, who had 29 saves, and the Golden Eagles got on the board in the third period when Victor McCutcheon scored, assists going to Zach Cornish and Danny Turck.
But the Lakers quickly answered as Falso scored for the second time, unassisted, restoring his team’s two-goal cushion, which stood up the rest of the way.
Having stayed home for nearly two weeks, the Lakers went back on the bus Friday and took a long trip east to face Whitesboro. As it turned out, the trip prove quite successful as Skaneateles scored early and used that success to push past the Warriors in another 3-1 decision.
From the start, Major was the Lakers’ catalyst, getting the lone goal of the first period. Then, when Whitesboro threatened in the second period, Major twice used deft passes to set up goals – one by Falso, the other by Devin Callahan. Motyl also got credit for a pair of assists.
The Warriors did get on the board with Mike Welch’s second-period goal, and had ample time to catch up as the Lakers’ attack cooled off. But the terrific Skaneateles defense made sure that lead held up, limiting Whitesboro to few real scoring chances as goalie Jarrett McDonald made 14 saves.
Now the Lakers (4-1-1), on Tuesday night, would get its long-awaited chance to pay back CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt for the triple-overtime defeat in last Februray’s Section III Division II semifinal that propelled the Brothers to a state title.
And that’s just the first half of a big week of home games, with the Lakers also hosting neighbor and rival Auburn Friday night at Allyn Arena.
