Perhaps it was too soon for the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team to record a “signature” victory, but that didn’t matter.
Any time the Lakers face LaFayette, it’s always full of passion and emotion, and last Thursday night’s rain-soaked clash at Hyatt Stadium was no different, with Skaneateles hanging on late for a 14-13 win over the Lancers.
While it had won its first two games of the season, Skaneateles had plenty of things to work on, especially on the defensive end, which always makes things more difficult when an opponent possessing the vast skill level of LaFayette is on the other side.
However, this was the Lancers’ first game of the season, and the fact that it had two contests in the books helped the Lakers, especially when it went into the middle stages.
Through one quarter, it was tied, 2-2, but gradually Skaneateles gained control through the work of its potent attack, which scored five times in each of the next two periods while the Lakers’ defense did enough to keep LaFayette from answering too often.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Skaneateles owned a 12-7 lead, and it would need that cushion. Led by Reid Jackowski, who finished with five goals and two assists, and Gavin Hill, who had three goals, the Lancers ate into that margin and nearly forced overtime, but the hosts held on.
Pat Hackler matched Jackowski’s five-goal total, adding an assist, while Reggie Buell scored three times and earned four assists. The rest of the Skaneateles attack was spread around as Tristan Custer, Patrick Major, Nick Wamp, Jeremy Castle, John Danforth and Ryan Gick had one goal apiece, Major adding two assists as Castle and Matt Goetzmann had single assists. Nate Squires made seven saves as LaFayette counterpart Mitch White had 11 saves.
Skaneateles would enter the LaFayette game with that 2-0 mark having beaten General Brown in its March 25 opener and then, last Tuesday night, rolled to an 18-4 victory over Mynderse Academy.
During a productive first quarter, the Lakers attacked at will and seemed to score on every possession, not letting up until it had built a 10-2 lead. By halftime, it was 14-3, and a running clock for the most of the second half allowed the Skaneateles reserves to see some action.
Buell, with four goals and four assists, and Hackler, with three goals and four assists, led the way. Danforth also scored three times as Wamp got two goals and two assists. Major and Goetzmann both had two goals and one assist as Custer and Castle notched single goals and Gick joined Custer in the assist column.
Having gained major momentum from the LaFayette win, the Lakers looked for four in a row Saturday against Cortland, and got it without having to worry about any late comebacks as it pounded the Purple Tigers 19-8.
Both sides were productive early, but the game got away in the second quarter, where Skaneateles outscored Cortland 7-1 to grab a 12-4 halftime edge. Then the Lakers added to that lead as Castle and Danforth each scored four times to lead the way.
Hackler’s hot start continued with three goals and two assists, while Major had three goals and one assist. Gick tacked on a pair of goal as Goetzmann managed a goal and three assists. Wamp and John Ryan scored, too, with Wamp contributing an assist.
Another big game awaits the Lakers Thursday night when it goes to Alibrandi Stadium to face Christian Brothers Academy, two days before a visit to Tully.
