A December full of lopsided defeats and lots of surrendered goals had left the Cazenovia ice hockey team facing lots of early questions.

What was more, the Lakers didn’t get much chance to recover from those struggles, having to face Cortland-Homer Monday night at the Morrisville State IcePlex two days following a 7-1 defeat to Auburn at Colgate University.

Despite all this, Cazenovia was tied with the Golden Eagles late in the third period, only to see that chance at victory wiped out by two late Cortland-Homer goals in a 6-4 loss.

Things did not start out this active, Cortland-Homer netting the only goal of the first period. But that changed when, early in the second period, Nate Morgan tied it, 1-1, and following a Golden Eagles short-handed goal, R.J. Smith quickly answered, tying the game again.

So they went to the third period 2-2, and Cazenovia fell behind for a third time early in that frame and, for a third time, pulled back even thanks to Smith’s second goal with 7:04 to play, assisted by Morgan and Trey Schug.

Less than a minute later, Andrew Parkhurst found the net, and the Lakers led, 4-3, but even that proved brief as, with 5:46 left, Cortland-Homer converted to produce the game’s fourth tie.  With under 90 seconds to play, a breakaway goal helped the Golden Eagles go in front for good, and it tacked on an empty-netter less than 40 seconds later.

Morgan finished with two assists, while Chase Cross joined Schug in the assist column. Cameron Dye finished with 18 saves as, for Cortland-Homer, Ben Gravel and Trevor Jurban led with two goals apiece, while Mike Turck had a goal and two assists.

Having fallen to 1-6, Cazenovia would get a week to recuperate and enjoy the holidays before Tuesday’s non-league game against Mohawk Valley at Rome’s Kennedy Arena and a Thursday-Friday appearance in Cortland-Homer’s holiday tournament, where it takes on Rye/Harrison in the opening round.