A 3-3 start did not have the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team in an ideal position, but it knew that strong play in the middle portion of the regular season could turn those feelings around.

In particular, the Lakers knew that its game against neighbor and rival Marcellus last Friday night at Hyatt Stadium would offer a particular clue as to where the season may head, especially since was the third time Skaneateles would play in four days.

For more than three quarters, all looked fine for the Lakers, but in a nightmarish finish a four-goal lead vanished and Skaneatleles lost a painful 8-7 overtime decision to the Mustangs.

Early goals by Cullen McGlynn and Sam Duggan gave Skaneateles a lead it would hold most of the night. Marcellus twice e pulled within one in the first half, but with McGlynn and Duggan scoring again and Owen Khuns adding a goal, Skaneateles went to the break with a 5-3 lead.

Jake Lilly’s marvelous work in goal helped Marcellus stay in touch through a scoreless third quarter, as he recorded 17 saves overall. Still, it looked like that effort would get wasted when the Lakers’ Tyler Strods and Cullen McGlynn scored early in the fourth quarter, doubling the Mustangs’ deficit to 7-3.

Just in time, though, the Mustangs started to win face-offs and find success with its attack, using three unanswered goals to pull within one, 7-6, and then tying it with 1:34 to play to force overtime, where it gained possession again and then produced the game-winner.

Through it all, Matt Hutchings led the way, scoring three times and adding an assist. Mike McNaney added a pair of goals, overcoming Kyle Oschner’s seven saves.

The Lakers visited Tully last Tuesday afternoon, and amid wet, muddy conditions, both sides slowed down, but Skaneateles still managed to beat the Black Knights 8-5.

Though Skaneateles had just two goals in each period, it proved enough. Strods scored three times for the hat trick, with McGlynn getting a goal and two assists. Mark Goetzmann and Connor Hill each had one goal and one assist, with Alex Dunn and Jack Vowley earning the other goals.

It proved easier on Thursday, when Skaneateles smashed Clinton 22-8. A wild first half saw the Lakers roar out to 6-0 first-quarter lead, and the margin grew to 14-4 by halftime as McGlynn got five goals and Strods scored four times to lead the way.

Duggan, Dawley and Colby Buell managed two goals apiece, with Dunn, Goetzmann and Devin Callahan earning single goals. Hill and Kuhns added assists.

At 5-4 following the defeat to Marcellus, the Lakers would visit Jordan-Elbridge on Monday and go to Cortland on Saturday night.