but it showed plenty of character and heart recovering from that situation.
In a visit to Westhill last Thursday night, the Lakers played a superb first half – and then promptly threw it away in a rough finish that led to a 13-11 defeat to the Warriors.
Though it didn’t resemble the three-overtime epic the boys teams shared two days earlier, Cazenovia didn’t mind the contrast – at least at the outset. A strong, balanced attack and consistent defense helped the Lakers lead the Warriors 7-2 at the break.
But Westhill made strong adjustments and proceeded to run right through Cazenovia’s resistance after the break, zooming out in front behind five goals from Erin McMullen, plus help from Haileigh Farrell (three goals) and Shelby Stack (one goal, three assists).
Thus, Cazenovia lost despite Sarah Willard’s five-goal effort, not to mention Audrey Burbidge adding two goals and three assists. Grace Milmoe had three goals and one assist. Chloe Willard notched the other goal.
Had the bad feeling lingered into Saturday’s non-league game against Jamesville-DeWitt, it may have affected the rest of the season, too, but instead Cazenovia made its own late comeback and pulled out an 11-10 victory over the Red Rams.
During its first-half struggles, the Lakers didn’t let J-D get away. Thus, trailing 6-3 going into the second half, it was able to make up ground with a well-balanced attack led by Burbidge, who put up three goals.
As time wound down in regulation, the two sides were tied, 10-10. But the Willard sisters broke that tie when Chloe offered the pass and Sarah, with 10 seconds to play, slid her second goal of the game past J-D netminder Carolyn Kolceski.
Aside From Sarah Willard, Dwyer and Taylor Eldred also scored twice, with Paige Nardella stepping up, earning a goal and two assists. Clare Costello also had a goal. Four different J-D players – Caroline Kopp, Lizzie O’Brien, Carly Stone and Meghan Byrnes – each had two goals.
Going to Jordan-Elbridge last Tuesday, the Lakers had a bit of early trouble, but quickly got over it and proceeded to dominate the rest of the game on both sides, beating the Eagles 13-3.
Goals by Marissa and Antonia Malvaso had J-E in front, 2-1, at the 10-minute mark of the first half, but after some empty possessions, the Lakers started to get comfortable, zooming out in front and putting together a 6-0 run to close the half. Up 7-2 at the break, Cazenovia kept pulling further away, led by Milmoe and Dwyer, who each finished with four goals and one assist.
Chloe Willard, Megan Henderson and Colby Lucas had matching totals of one goal and one assist, while Nardella and Sarah Willard also found the net. Sophie Goris had a strong game in the net, too, turning away seven of the 10 J-E shots she faced as part of a defense that allowed just one goal in the last 40-plus minutes.
Even with the win over J-D, Cazenovia (4-2) knew another major challenge loomed Tuesday when it got a visit from reigning state Class C champion Skaneateles, which preceded games against Onondaga Thursday and Marcellus on Saturday afternoon.
