Through four games, the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team was undefeated, having mixed in one-sided efforts with close calls such as its March 30 win over LaFayette.
However, that win streak was halted last Thursday night at Alibrandi Stadium as Christian Brothers Academy, getting a bit of payback for what happened in 2016, took over in the third quarter and handed Skaneateles a 15-6 defeat.
Each of the Brothers’ players remembered how Skaneateles topped them in last May’s Section III Class C quarterfinal. Now they were together again, and following a 3-3 first quarter, CBA’s defense held the Lakers to a single tally the rest of the first half.
Still, it wasn’t until the third quarter that the Brothers took over. In waves, the CBA forwards punished Skaneateles defenders and didn’t let up until it had outscored the Lakers 8-1 in that frame and put the game out of reach.
Pat Hackler led Skaneateles with two goals and two assists. John Danforth also scored twice, with Reggie Buell getting a goal and two assists. Patrick Major had the other goal and Jeremy Castle contributed an assist.
Scott Oschner did manage 10 saves in the net, but CBA had four different players earn hat tricks. Ben McCreary and Mike Matheson both scored four times, with McCreary tacking on three assists. Close behind them, Alex Calkins and Augie Bonacci both got three goals, with Mike Adornato getting a goal and three assists. Patrick O’Brien also had an assist.
Looking to bounce back on Saturday, Skaneateles faced Tully and found itself in a wild battle that featured 13 goals in the first quarter – most of them from the Lakers, who used that quick start as a springboard for a 20-13 victory over the Black Knights.
Defenses on both ends did not enjoy those first 12 minutes, but Skaneateles had more possession time and nearly reached double digits while building a 9-4 lead. Then it kept building that margin over the course of the next two periods, eventually getting it to 18-6 before easing up in the closing stretch.
Hackler, with five goals and four assists, and Buell, with four goals and five assists, both finished with nine points. Danforth had four goals and three assists, while Ryan Gick notched his own three-goal hat trick. Major added two goals. Jeremy Castle and Nick Wamp had one goal apiece as Will McGlynn contributed an assist.
The Lakers would take a 5-1 record to Chittenango Tuesday night and then host another big rival, Marcellus, on Thursday, by which point it would have already played half of its 16 regular-season contests.
