As a sign of just how much respect the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team has garnered, it earned a no. 9 spot in the first Nike/Lacrosse Magazine top 25 rankings of the country’s best squads.

To put the Lakers’ ranking in perspective, West Genesee, the reigning state Class A champions (who graduated a host of seniors from that 2014 team), was at no. 19, 10 spots behind Skaneateles.

It came just as the Lakers set out on a tough two-day trip to Long Island to face two other teams ranked in the national top 20, including reigning state Class B champion Manhasset, who sits at no. 4, best among all teams from New York State.

Manhasset, as it turned out, proved way too good for Skaneateles, the Indians controlling the game from start to finish and handling the Lakers 21-8, proving that the national respect it garnered was justified.

Skaneateles could not recover from a hot start by Manhasset, who led 9-1 early in the first half and then was content to exchange goals until it took a 13-4 advantage to the break.

Led by Kyla Sears, who scored four times and added a pair of assists, Skaneateles played closer in the second half, but still saw the Indians pull away, led by Lindsey Ronbeck, who had five goals, and Sarah Phillips, who had four goals.

Hannah Powers gained two goals and two assists on the Lakers’ side. Catie Woodruff and Tate Green notched single goals, with Hannah Logan held to one assist. Allison Weiss and Emily Baldwin combined for eight saves in the net.

With no turnaround, Skaneateles had to go face Garden City, holder of a record 11 state titles, the very next afternoon, and while it proved a lot closer, the Trojans still beat the Lakers 12-11.

A high-scoring first half saw Skaneateles nearly match its Manhasset total in 25 minutes, yet still trail 9-7 at intermission. Things closed up in the second half, and while the Lakers’ defense was stellar, it could not quite catch up, the Trojans’ Michael Bruno leading her side with four goals and two assists.

This again proved a showcase for Sears, who had a game-high six goals and notched a pair of assists, too. Powers wasn’t far behind, scoring four times, but the rest of the Lakers were quiet, with only Logan getting a goal outside of Sears and Powers and Woodruff adding an assist. Weiss and Baldwin again had eight total saves.

Having returned home, Skaneateles took on the combined Bishop Ludden-Bishop Grimes team on Friday afternoon and promptly returned to the win column, claiming a 20-8 decision.

A strong first half saw the Lakers steadily build a 12-4 lead, and while Sears had five goals and two assists, Bailey Herr emerged as a bigger threat, notching four goals and one assist to match Powers.

Seven other players – Green, Woodruff, Hannah Logan, Makena Gorman, Abbie Kuhns, Mae McGlynn and Molly Newton – found the net, too, giving Skaneateles 10 different goal-scorers. Teresa Shattuck and Jennifer Vazquez led Ludden-Grimes with three goals apiece.

In a key early-season battle Monday night, Skaneateles visits Westhill before returning home Thursday night to face Jordan-Elbridge.