In the small window of opportune weather that the early part of the last weekend of March afforded, Cazenovia and Chittenango’s girls lacrosse teams both got underway – and both would win.
Hosting Central Square last Saturday in a game moved to the Cazenovia College turf field, a big surge late in the first half left the Red Hawks far behind as the Lakers rolled to a 16-4 victory.
Five minutes into the first half, the two sides were tied, 1-1, but from the moment Jessie Matt tore into the Central Square defense and scored on a fast break to put her team in front 2-1, Cazenovia would take full command.
By the time it was 6-1, Audrey Burbidge had already earned a hat trick, and soon Matt followed, earning her third goal as the margin grew to 10-1. All told, the Lakers got 12 unanswered goals and had a 13-1 edge going into halftime.
Not until it was 15-1 early in the second half did the Red Hawks break the spell and score again, but by then the clock was running and Cazenovia could cruise through the rest of the game.
Burbidge and Matt, each finishing with three goals and one assist, led a well-balanced attack where Grace Milmoe, Dana Kiselica, Keeley Race and Sarah Willard got two goals apiece. Race and Willard each added a pair of assists as Taylor Eldred and Allison Cooney also found the net. Clare Costello and Olivia McEntee picked up assists.
Meanwhile, Chittenango played host to New Hartford, and with a solid all-around effort, especially on the defensive side, the Bears fought past the Spartans 10-6.
The two sides exchanged goals early, but Chittenango established an early margin when it scored three times in the span of less than a minute to seize a 4-2 lead.
By halftime, the margin was 6-2, and the Bears’ defense maintained that lead until midway through the second half, when New Hartford notched three straight goals to pull within one, 6-5.
But it was the Bears getting the final surge, outscoring the Spartans 4-1 in the last 10 minutes as Ashley Young, registering three goals and one assist, led a well-balanced attack.
Lauren Billington and Lea Clarke each found the net twice, while Lindsay Moon, Nicole Zimmer and Brooke VanGorden earned one goal apiece. Allison Cerio contributed an assist as Sarah Alvanos scored three of New Hartford’s six goals. Chittenango goalie Allie Denton recorded 11 saves.
The Bears go for two in a row Wednesday night, hosting Cortland, while Cazenovia visits Westhill on Tuesday for its only action this week.
