Though it was 8-1, and no. 9 in the state Class D rankings, the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team knew it had to show vast improvement from its previous outing if it wanted any chance to take down defending Section III Class A champion Fayetteville-Manlius last Saturday at Hyatt Stadium.
As it turned out, though, the Lakers did show that improvement, in every phase of the game, first by attacking hard early to build a lead, and then protecting it with tremendous defense as it put away the Hornets by a score of 13-7.
With an early start time and the stature of a non-league game, focus can prove a problem area – but not for Skaneateles, who was sharp in its early attacks to bolt out to a 6-2 lead by the end of the first quarter.
And the Lakers didn’t let up, taking that margin to 10-4 by halftime and 12-5 by the end of the third quarter, not just by finishing off scoring chances, but protecting its own net whenever possible, as goalie Scott Oschner only had to make eight saves.
Pat Hackler scored five times, but F-M could not focus on him since John Danforth and Patrick Major were also earning three-goal hat tricks. Reggie Buell had a goal and two assists, with Matt Goetzmann adding a goal and Tristan Custer an assist.
The need for a better performance sprung from the Lakers’ trip to Jordan-Elbridge two days earlier. Skaneateles led most of the way and prevailed without serious late-game stress, but the 23-18 decision had to cause some concern.
J-E came into that game with a 4-3 record, so it was far from a pushover. Still, led again by Buell and Hackler, Skaneateles was in the process of putting together an easy win as it constantly solved the Eagles’ defensive schemes and led 13-5 at halftime.
Then, perhaps knowing what lay ahead, the Lakers relaxed – almost too much, because J-E would match them in the third quarter and make up ground in the late going as Dylan Dunham torched Skaneateles for seven goals and one assist, with Hunter Brunelle and Jacob Schwarting netting three goals apiece.
It took Buell reaching double digits in points (six goals, four assists) and Hackler getting seven goals and two assists to help the visitors stay in front. Custer, Major and Quintyn McLeod got two goals apiece, while Danforth had a goal and two assists. Goetzmann, Nick Wamp and Ryan Gick also scored.
Even with the win over F-M secured, the Lakers knew an even bigger game looms Tuesday when it hosts state no. 1-ranked Westhill, two days before a visit from Cazenovia, who has struggled in 2017 after the departure of most of it top players from last year’s sectional Class C championship squad.
