Chittenango — Now the journey of the Skaneateles boys soccer team has returned to its origin point – Middletown, where 12 months ago the dream of a second state Class B championship was ripped out by Mattituck.

Again, the Lakers are going to Middletown, and to the state final four, getting there on Saturday night by shutting out Section IV champion Chenango Forks 3-0 in the Class B regional final at Chittenango High School.

It was the same margin by which Skaneateles had defeated Lowville in last Monday’s Section III Class B title game, and the same score as the 2014 regional final against Port Byron/Union Springs, but the difference here was that the Lakers didn’t get anything on the board in the first half.

Chenango Forks found itself defending itself right from the outset, Skaneateles applying pressure and making Blue Devils goalkeeper Luke Gaworecki put together a series of tough stops.

For the rest of the half, the Lakers pushed, and could not break through. Even when Graham McCarthy was given a wide-open shot when Gaworecki lost possession of the ball late in the half, McCarthy was unable to put the ball in the net.

So they were still 0-0 going into the second half, but the Lakers didn’t panic, instead figuring that, as long as it kept on playing its style, something would get through – and it did.

Just 3:30 into the half, Reggie Buell raced toward the net, chasing a long pass. Gaworecki ran out to meet it, but Buell beat him to the ball and then chipped it home, giving Skaneateles the lead.

Not even five minutes later, McCarthy atoned for his earlier miss, getting past a Forks defender on a long pass and then sending a high shot past Gaworecki.

Though it held a 2-0 lead, and though its defense made sure that a fourth consecutive post-season shutout (and sixth straight shutout overall) was attained, Skaneateles didn’t let up. Seconds after Jack Bailey’s shot rang off the post, Sam Clymer clinched it, earning a goal with 9:30 left.

Now it’s back to Middletown High School, and to a state semifinal next Saturday at 1:30 against Section VII champion Plattsburgh, who got here by surprising unbeaten, state no. 2-ranked Section II champion Schalmont 3-2 in its regional final. A win gets the Lakers to the state final Sunday at 1 p.m. against East Aurora (Section VI) or Hastings (Section XI).