Between the 5-1 loss it took to Baldwinsville on Sept. 1 and the close call it got at Weedsport one week later in a 2-1 victory, the Cazenovia field hockey team had gone through more stress in two weeks than in entire seasons of recent vintage.
All of it could still lead to something great, though, and the Lakers offered a hint at that greatness in Tuesday night’s game at Fayetteville-Manlius, where an unleashed attack and much-improved defense meshed together and took out the Hornets 5-0.
F-M, the reigning Section III Class A champions, saw most of its starting lineup from 2015 graduate and also changed head coaches, with long-time mentor Cynthia Vulcano replaced by Kristen Gallivan.
The Hornets, coming off a 3-2 win at Liverpool Sept. 7, had some momentum – but Cazenovia stifled it with a series of stops on one end and a series of chances on the other end that led to goals and a 3-0 halftime advantage.
F-M never recovered, but the Lakers didn’t let up until Zoe Shephard had picked up two goals and one assist, with Molly LaHart also finding the net twice. Caeli Carroll earned the other goal as Mikaylee Whalen picked up a pair of assists.
Just as importantly was the way Cazenovia’s defense performed. Delaney Yates, Liz Shephard and the rest of the back line made stops and, when they didn’t, Brady Flannery proved tough, stopping all nine F-M shots she faced.
Without any rest, Cazenovia made a longer road trip 24 hours later, visiting Cortland and beating the Purple Tigers 6-0, getting four of those goals in the first half and trying, whenever possible, to rest key players.
Leading a well-balanced attack, Zoe Shephard scored twice, with Janie Kempf and Morgan Giordano both producing one goal and one assist. Whalen and LaHart picked up goals, too, as Carroll contributed an assist.
Having improved to 5-1 on the season, Cazenovia would host Cicero-North Syracuse at Burton Street on Monday to open a busy week that included a Wednesday visit from Homer and a weekend appearance at the Rome Free Academy Tournament, where it would duel with defending Class B sectional champion Camden in the first round.
