When the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team entered the Section III Class C playoffs, it did so with a 10-6 record and an understanding that it had to play better if it wanted more than just a token post-season appearance.
The way the bracket worked out, the no. 5 seed Lakers would host no. 12 seed Cortland in the opening round just three days after beating that same team 10- 8 in the regular-season finale.
Now, with much higher stakes, the game wasn’t as close, Skaneateles putting together six unanswered goals in the first half to gain control and ultimately prevail, 15-8, over the Purple Tigers to set up Wednesday’s sectional quarterfinal at no. 4 seed South Jefferson, who handled no. 13 seed Bishop Ludden 13-4 in its opening-round game.
Things started well, with Owen Kuhns and Jack VanSlyke scoring to get Skaneateles a 2-0 lead. Then, after Cortland tied it, 2-2, the Lakers countered with big goals from Cullen McGlynn and Alex Dunn that created a 4-2 edge going to the second quarter.
That momentum carried over, too, for Skaneateles stretched it out to a 6-0 run in the second quarter, McGlynn and Dunn both finding the net a second time with Devin Callahan and Patrick Major also converting.
Cortland broke that string, but still trailed, 8-3, at halftime. Throughout the last two periods, any time the Purple Tigers wanted to make a run, Skaneateles thwarted it, anchored by a defense that made several key stops and saw Kyle Oschner pick up 16 saves.
McGlynn finished with four goals and two assists. Dunn tacked on a third goal for his hat trick, while VanSlyke had two goals and three assists. Kuhns (two goals) and Sam Duggan (one goal, three assists) made solid contributions as John Danforth added a goal and assists were credited to Reece Eddy and Colin Foehl.
This wild week had started last Tuesday with a tough 11-9 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy at Alibrandi Stadium.
These two teams had met April 13 at Hyatt Stadium. CBA won that game 15-8, and the lopsided nature of that result gave the Lakers plenty of motivation for their rematch.
While the rematch was loser, the Brothers moved out in front, 2-1, during a low-scoring first quarter and withstood all of the Skaneateles charges to lead, 5-4, at halftime.
Again, a slow start to a half proved costly for the Lakers, who managed just one goal in the third quarter, something it could not overcome despite some late-game production, largely because CBA goalie Matt Vavonese was sensational, stopping 18 of the 27 shots he faced.
Duggan did get three goals and three assists, while Dunn also found the net three times. McGlynn, VanSlyke and Callahan had one goal apiece, with Jack Kimm adding an assist.
Oschner played the entire game in the net, earning eight saves, but not keeping everything out. Jack Jeschke led CBA with three goals and three assists, while Alex Calkins, Ben McCreary and Zach Taylor managed two goals apiece.
A day later, Skaneateles looked to bounce back against Cortland on Senior Night, perhaps not realizing how familiar it would get with the Purple Tigers by week’s end.
Skaneateles took charge late in the first quarter with consecutive goals from Duggan, Dunn and McGlynn that broke a 1-1 tie. The rest of the first half proved active, too, but Skaneateles answered every Cortland thrust and maintained a 7-5 lead going into the break. Then it doubled that margin in the third quarter as Duggan and Callahan struck again.
Hanging on late, the Lakers saw Oschner pick up seven saves. Duggan and McGlynn both finished with three-goal hat tricks, while Dunn got two goals and one assist and Callahan and Major had single tallies. Kuhns added an assist as May still managed four goals and one assist.
The playoff win sent Skaneateles to South Jefferson, with the winner knowing that it could get a shot at top seed and defending champion Cazenovia in Saturday’s semifinal at East Syracuse Minoa Stadium, should those other Lakers get past Marcellus in its quarterfinal. The sectional Class C title game is next Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome.
