As they have each picked up multiple state championships in the course of his millennium, the Skaneateles and West Genesee girls lacrosse teams have also accumulated a healthy respect for each other’s well-built programs.
So the Lakers had to admit that the Wildcats had the upper hand on them, at least for this season, when WG prevailed 16-7 in their head-to-head meeting last Tuesday night at Hyatt Stadium.
Skaneateles, who sat at no. 5 in the first state Class D rankings of the spring, had given itself yet another difficult test, knowing how tough WG’s defense was in the wake of allowing just four goals to Jamesville-DeWitt on April 28.
Only once did the Lakers lead, at 1-0. WG quickly tied it and went in front after that, offering answers every time Skaneateles tied to make things close in the first half.
Trailing 8-4 at the break, the Lakers could not string any sort of run together in the second half, either, as just three players scored – Olivia Navaroli and Ioanna Christou with three goals apiece, Riley Brogan with one goal and one assist as Navaroli also got two assists.
On WG’s side, Sam Detor anchored the attack, earning four goals and also getting four assists. Phoebe Nelson scored three times, with Adrianna Nojaim, Mackenzie Meager and Elise Mancabelli adding two goals apiece.
Skaneateles entered May with a 7-3 record. The Lakers had faced Tully on April 27 and prevailed again, 16-10, a result more impressive given that the likes of Olivia Navaroli and Maggie Newton were still out with injuries.
Overcoming lots of physical play from the Black Knights, the Lakers built a 9-3 advantage by halftime and maintained that margin despite the Black Knights’ second-half surge.
Again, Skaneateles got big production from Brogan, with five goals and five assists, and Grace Dower, who had six goals and one assist. Christou, Gaby Welch, Anna McGlynn and Tatum Pas’cal had one goal apiece.
Visiting Jordan-Elbridge on Friday after the defeat to West Genesee, the Lakers leaned heavily on Brogan and Navaroli as it tore out to a 12-4 halftime lead and eventually defeated the Eagles 18-8.
Brogan added six more goals to her total this season, but Navaroli was close behind, finding the net five times as Dower picked up two goals and one assist.
Maggie Newton stepped up, earning a goal and two assists, while Christou, Welch, Pas’cal and Abbey Logan picked up single goals. Alexis Braun (two goals, one assist) and Katie Goodrich (one goal, two assists) were J-E’s top performers.
Skaneateles has games at LaFayette and Bishop Ludden/Grimes/Onondaga early this week, and then rest until Saturday’s tilt with Guilderland, from the Section II ranks.
