In a way, the close call the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team gave to defending Section III Class C champion Cazenovia on April 30 may have helped as much as any victory could.
By showing it could hang close to an opponent regarded as much as any team in Central New York, regardless of class, the Lakers gave itself a spark for everything that would follow in the month of May – or at least that was the plan.
For one night, that plan held up quite well as the Lakers, in a non-league visit to Rome Free Academy, unleashed its most lopsided first half in recent memory and cruised to a 21-5 victory over the Black Knights.
In the first quarter alone, Skaneateles put in 10 goals, but didn’t stop there, maintaining the shutout and the onslaught even as the clock started running. By halftime, the margin was 18-0, and the reserves were getting lots of playing time.
Matt Goetzmann paced the Lakers with six goals and one assist. Reggie Buell scored three times and added four assists, while Sam Duggan and Jack VanSlyke also had three-goal hat tricks.
John Danforth managed a goal and two assists as Nick Wamp, Jack Kimm, Jeremy Castle and Pat Hackler also earned goals. VanSlyke and Castle got single assists.
This win helped Skaneateles climb back above .500 (6-5), with four of its remaining five regular-season games at Hyatt Stadium, including visits from Homer and CBA this week before a Saturday trip to Cortland and next week’s home clashes with Marcellus and Tully.
