Regardless of results, one guarantee was that last week for the Cazenovia girls soccer team would be something no one associated with the program could forget.
The Lakers had already split back-to-back games, falling to CBA 2-1 but topping Phoenix 7-4, when head coach Kaleen Sessler had to leave the team late in the week – for a very good reason.
Early on Saturday morning, Sessler had a baby boy, mere hours before the team she coached was scheduled to take on Clinton. Both teams came into that game with 3-1 record, but the Warriors had nothing resembling the events surrounding the Lakers.
Assistants Kara Falso and Patrick Kelleher took over head-coaching duties (and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future), but all of the events provided a distraction for the Lakers, who could not get much going as its defense struggled throughout a 6-1 defeat to Clinton.
Brenna Hughes did pick up a goal, assisted by Maddy Gavitt, but Clinton was far more organized and productive, battering Cazenovia’s defenses as Sarah Owens, with two goals, and Emmeline McPherson, with two goals, led the push. Darby D’Angelo, Ericka Arancio and Gwen Williams had one goal apiece.
Before all this, schoolwork got in the way of field work. And it may have cost Cazenovia some early-season momentum.
The Lakers, who had outscored its first two foes (APW and Hannibal) by a combined 14-0 margin, were set to face 0-1-1 Christian Brothers Academy on Sept. 10, only to have the game pushed back because several students were taking ACT tests that morning.
With the tests out of the way, Cazenovia made up that game at Alibrandi Stadium last Monday night, and despite all kinds of chances, could not take a second-half lead, ultimately falling to the Brothers 2-1 in overtime.
Brenna Hughes netted a first-half goal, but the Lakers also gave up its first goal of the season. That 1-1 tie held up through the rest of regulation as CBA’s defense honed in on Saige Ackermann, holding her without a point after her six goals in the first two games. Megan Hendreson was shut out, too.
Busy in the net, Cazenovia goalie Hannah Matteson made 11 saves. At the same time, though, Cazenovia couldn’t solve Brothers netminder Catherine Burns, whose work paid off when CBA netted the game-winner in the first OT period. Amanda Winn and Sam McKenna got the goals as Burns finished the night with 13 saves.
Cazenovia didn’t get much time to recover, visiting Phoenix the next afternoon. But the Lakers overcame that issue by beating the Firebirds 7-4 in a game where both defenses struggled plenty.
It took every bit of the Lakers’ production to overcome its lapses on the other end of the field. And Kirsten Underwood led the charge, pouring in three goals for a hat trick as Ackermann returned to form, scoring twice. Henderson and Brenna Hughes had the other goals as Maddy Gavitt produced a career-best three assists.
Meanwhile, Chittenango, who had not played since Sept. 6, returned from a week’s rest last Tuesday night and topped Hannibal 4-1, doing so with a steady attack that scored twice in each half and unleashed 13 shots to the Warriors’ three.
Jessica Shepard paced the Bears with two goals and one assist. Ally Shoemaker added two assists as Megan Pierce and Kaiden Williams earned one goal apiece to help Chittenango climb back to the .500 mark at 2-2.
To get above that mark, the Bears simply needed to beat Altmar-Parish-Williamstown on Thursday – which it did, blanking the Rebels 7-0 as it matched its Hannibal total by halftime and then kept going. Sarah Martin was credited with two goals, while Pierce and Morgan Shoemaker also netted goals. Shepard and Ava Dardaris combined for nine saves.
Chittenango kept it going on Saturday against Solvay, shutting out the Bearcats 3-0. All of the goals came in the first half as Shepard, with one goal and assist, led the way. Nicole Myers and Ally Shoemaker earned the other goals, with Sarah Martin and Bayla Cutrie each picking up an assist.
With all that behind them, the Bears would get its shot at Cazenovia on Wednesday, but that came in between matches against Fulton and Jordan-Elbridge. All told, Chittenango would play six times in 10 days.
