For some members of the Skaneateles ice hockey team that won a state Division II championship on March 15, there was no off-season rest.
Immediately, they were headed to lacrosse, where those Lakers carry their own winning tradition and, in 2015, are looking to end Cazenovia’s four-year reign at the top of the Section III Class C ranks.
To do so, Skaneateles will need complete efforts similar to what it pulled off for stretches of last Friday’s season opener at Hyatt Stadium, where the Lakers broke open a close game early in the second half, and then held on to beat the Maroons 12-10.
This game took place just 12 days after that hockey state title was secured, yet several members of that team, including Devin Callahan, Reece Eddy, Owen Kuhns and Kyle Oschner, played key roles against Auburn.
During a tight first half, neither side was able to break clear, Skaneateles overcoming a brief 3-2 deficit and getting even, 6-6, by the time they reached the break.
Then, in the pivotal third quarter, Skaneateles won the face-offs, controlled possession and turned those chances into goals, outscoring Auburn 5-1, a cushion it would need when the Maroons made a late comeback attempt.
Callahan and Jack Van Slyke each finished with two goals and two assists. Alex Dunn scored three times, while Kuhns and Sam Duggan also had two-goal outings. Eddy added a goal.
Oschner, also a goalie on the hockey side, made 10 saves, only solved in a consistent way by the Maroons’ Brian Cunningham, who led all individuals with five goals. Brothers Alex and Jack Burgmaster had two goals apiece.
And the big test for Skaneateles against Cazenovia arrives this Thursday night, when the two Laker rivals square off at Hyatt Stadium. Game time is 6:30.
