At least from the perspective of Division II American Conference opponents, the climb to topple the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team might prove an arduous one for the rest of the winter.
Clinton found this out when it visited Allyn Arena last Tuesday night. Reggie Buell’s six points, combined with plenty of support from other attackers and a defense that was stingy for much of the game, led to an 8-2 victory over the Warriors.
Skaneateles took twice as many shots as Clinton did. Much more importantly, those shots went in on a regular basis as the Lakers were up 3-0 through one period and doubled that margin to 6-0 by the second intermission.
Buell had a part in most of the scoring plays, amassing four assists to go with a pair of goals. Raymond Falso didn’t reach the four-goal plateau that he did Dec. 9 against CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt at Onondaga Nation Arena, but he did score three times for his third hat trick in four games.
Patrick Major, like Buell, scored twice, earning one assist as Matt Benson picked up one goal and one assist. Ryan Gick and Matt Leveroni had two assists apiece, with Dimitris Christou getting the other assist. Zach Wilhoit stopped all nine shots he faced, and both of Clinton’s goals, from Zane Monaghan and Matt Orlando, came after Chris Falso replaced Wilhoit in the net in the third period.
Having earned the no. 2 spot in the first state Division II rankings of the season behind Pelham, the Lakers sought its sixth win in a row Friday night against Cortland-Homer at the McDonald Sports Complex, and the offense finally went quiet for long stretches, though didn’t hurt Skaneateles as it beat the Golden Eagles 4-2.
When the Lakers bolted out to a 3-0 lead through one period, another high-scoring rout seemed imminent. That didn’t happen, though, thanks to a Cortland-Homer defense that effectively contained the potent Skaneateles attack, holding RaymondFalso to one goal and one assist and saw goalie Brandon Ludwig make 22 saves.
Still, that early damage made a difference, and since Falso wasn’t entirely quiet, his linemates fourished, including Buell, who scored twice as Benson netted the other goal. Gick and Major earned two assists apiece. Chris Falso started in goal on this night, stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced.
And all of this leads to the first showdown of the winter between neighbors Skaneateles and Auburn Wednesday night at Casey Park. Despite the Maroons’ uneven (3-3) start, the Lakers know Auburn would be ready for this battle, which precedes a Friday visit by Ithaca to Allyn Arena.
