For two long weeks, the Cazenovia ice hockey team had to wait to return to game action, stuck with a 2-8 record and determined to turn things around before it got too late.
When that break ended, the Lakers made a spirited comeback in last Tuesday’s game against Liverpool at Lysander Ice Arena, but lost in overtime to the Warriors 5-4.
This one went back and forth, Cazenovia shutting out Liverpool in the first period, but only establishing a 1-0 lead, not enough to withstand the Warriors’ second-period push.
Now trailing 3-2, the Lakers caught Liverpool in the third period, led by R.J. Smith, who finished with two goals and one assist as Andrew Parkhurst and Mike Avegenkios also earned goals. Dominic Paglia and Jack Bookbinder had one assist apiece.
Still, Liverpool pulled it out in the five-minute OT period, overcoming 35 saves from Logan Palmer as Bobby Welch led a balanced Warriors attack with a goal and three assists. Jack Irwin had one goal and two assists as Connor Boland, John Coggiola and Marco Palumbo also put in goals and Gavin Buza made 36 saves.
Back at the Morrisville State IcePlex Thursday night, Cazenovia hosted New Hartford, and for more than two periods the Lakers shut down the Spartans, yet still had to settle for a 3-1 defeat.
Smith struck for a first-period goal, assisted by Paglia and Parkhurst. And that 1-0 lead held up for a while, Cazenovia’s defense turning away all of New Hartford’s chances as Palmer would eventually record 28 saves.
Yet the Lakers could not add to that lead, either, thwarted by Spartans netminder Juliano Macera and his 30 saves. And New Hartford finally solved Palmer for three goals in the final period, two of them by Tyler Penree, the other by Aiden Joy as Logan Kraft and Shane Calhoun each got two assists.
Still at the IcePlex on Saturday, Cazenovia faced Watertown IHC , and the close calls it had faced against other sides led to the reward of a lopsided 7-0 victory over the Cavaliers.
With only its third win of the season in the books, Cazenovia would host defending Section III Division II champion Skaneateles Tuesday before back-to-back weekend games as it goes to Onondaga Nation Arena to face CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt Friday and then hosts Clinton on Saturday at 5 p.m.
