What was scarier than seeing the Cazenovia field hockey team compile 10 goals in each of its first two Onondaga High School League games this fall (wins over Homer Sept. 3 and Cortland Sept. 5) was giving those same Lakers a chance to rest for a week and further hone its considerable skills.
Thus, when defending Section III Class B champion East Syracuse-Minoa showed up on Friday afternoon to Burton Street Elementary School, the refreshed Lakers were ready to pounce again, and did so in a 7-0 shutout over the Spartans.
Though ESM did win that sectional title in 2013, it saw 13 seniors, including most of its starting lineup, graduate, including top scorer Amy Loder and goalie Rachael Aird. So it was still breaking in a mostly-new lineup as it ventured to Cazenovia.
Barely 10 minutes into the first half, the Lakers’ relentless attack started to pay off as Sarah Willard gave her side a 1-0 lead. Seven minutes later, Rachel McLaughlin doubled the margin, scoring off a feed from Sarah Liddell, and within seconds it was 3-0 thanks to Liddell’s goal, assisted by Willard.
When McLaughlin notched her second goal, with an assist to Meredith Shephard, just 1:28 before halftime, Cazenovia had a 4-0 edge on ESM, and was far from finished.
Less than 12 minutes into the second half, it was Ashley Kent’s turn to put in a goal, McLaughlin gaining her first assist of the afternoon. A penalty corner led to Liddell’s second goal with 8:52 left, and Kent returned to strike again with 3:40 to play.
Once again, the Lakers’ defense, anchored by Shephard and Maddy Langey, offered such good protection that the two goalies, Kimber Nourse and Maria Groetz, did not have to make a save between them.
With a 5-0 record, Cazenovia visited Port Byron Monday and hosted Moravia on Wednesday before an appearance this weekend in Camden’s annual tournament.
