Geographic proximity made the Skaneateles and Auburn boys ice hockey teams natural rivals. But what’s taken place on the ice in the last couple of seasons only has made the rivalry more intense.

First, the Maroons beat the Lakers 2-1 in the 2014 Section III Division II final at Utica Auditorium. Then, a year later, they met in the sectional semifinals at Allyn Arena, and it was Skaneateles coming out on top 3-1 on its way to a first state championship in a quarter-century.

So it only figured that, when the two sides gathered again Tuesday night at Casey Park Rink, it would prove close, tense and exciting – and the pendulum swung back to the Maroons, who used tremendous goaltending from Jake Farrington and a bit of late dramatics to upend the Lakers 3-2.

Going in, Skaneateles held the no. 4 state Division II ranking and was just three days removed from a strong 5-2 victory against Cazenovia at the Morrisville State IcePlex. Auburn sported a 7-2 record and a no. 14 state ranking, its lone defeats coming to Cazenovia and defending sectional Division I champion Baldwinsville.

Despite the strong offensive firepower from both sides, neither team would score in first period, the Lakers unable to capitalize on a pair of power plays. As the second period wore on, it remained 0-0 in large part because Auburn goalie Jack Farrington was turning everything back

The Lakers broke the logjam with Raymond Falso’s goal, assisted by Reece Eddy and Jacob Patalino, but despite taking 18 shots to the Maroons’ one in that second period, Skaneateles only had that one-goal edge, foreshadowing the wild turn of events in the final period.

Just 2:07 into that last frame, Auburn converted on a power play with Johnny Malandruccolo’s tying goal. Right off the ensuing face-off, though, the Lakers attacked, and Reggie Buell, off a feed from Falso, beat Farrington to put his side back in front 2-1, only to have Tyler Ely answer less than a minute later for the Maroons

Those three goals in a 70-second span left the game at 2-2, but then the game’s pattern resumed itself, Skaneateles again attacking at will and, again, getting turned back as Farrington worked his total to 33 saves, 21 more than Lakers counterpart Kyle Oschner.

During the last minute of regulation, Auburn pushed hard, and with 35.7 seconds left, Malandruccolo returned, taking a shot from the corner that eluded Oschner and found the net.

Despite pulling Oschner for an extra attacker, Skaneateles could not force overtime, instead taking a painful defeat that will only add more fire and emotion to the rematch between the Lakers and Maroons Jan. 22 at Allyn Arena.

In the meantime, Skaneateles, who had played seven of its first nine games on the road, returned to home ice Friday to start the Duke Schneider Memorial Tournament against John Jay-Cross River (Section I). And this game proved a thriller, too, with Sam Clymer rescuing the hosts during a three-minute stretch of the third period to pull out a 2-1 victory.

For a long while, this game resembled Auburn. Skaneateles took eight shots in the first period to JJ-CR’s two, but it remained 0-0, and the second period produced more frustration as Brian Daley put the visitors in front at the 1:14 mark and the Lakers, despite 10 more shots, remained off the board, stymied by JJ-CR goalie James McMichael.

Deep into the third period, Skaneateles stared at that 1-0 deficit – at least until Clymer did something about it. Moved by head coach Mitch Major from defense to wing in recent weeks, Clymer, with 9:58 left in regulation, hit a shot from the right circle that made it past McMichael to tie it, 1-1.

Then, just 2:20 later, Clymer positioned himself next to the net and, taking a pass from Matt Benson, poked home the winning goal. And the Lakers would hang on, getting 14 saves from Bennett Morse in the net, each of them important.

Now came Saturday’s game against Pelham, a rematch of last year’s Division II regional final that the Lakers won en route to the state title. Again, it went to the third period and, again, the Lakers provided the strong finish, prevailing 4-1 to win the Schneider Tournament.

Following a early exchange of goals, it remained 1-1 until the third period, kept there by a strong Lakers defense. Splitting the time in the net, Morse and Oschner both found themselves quite busy, but they combined to turn back 29 of Pelham’s 30 shots.

Then, led by Buell, Skaneateles attacked hard, and the result was three unanswered goals that accounted for the winning margin. Aside from his single goal, Buell earned a pair of assists as Clymer, Falso and Devin Callahan also found the net.

So the Lakers are 9-2 going into this week’s action, which includes a Tuesday visit from Whitesboro and a tough trip to New Hartford on Thursday night.