Usually, by mid-September the Cazenovia field hockey team is in full flight, displaying its championship intentions and casting aside all of its Onondaga High School League competition.

That’s not the case in 2018 so far, for it took until last Wednesday for the Lakers to get into the win column, and even that required overtime as it fought past Port Byron/Union Springs 3-2.

Still looking to bounce back from its Sept. 6 defeat to East Syracuse Minoa, it didn’t help Cazenovia that rain postponed last Monday’s match with Homer, which will get made up Sept. 24.

At Port Byron two days later, the Panthers matched what the Lakers could produce in regulation, thanks to Jenna McKay, who scored one goal and assisted on the other, by Riley Luste.

Each half produced one goal on each side with Samantha Morgan and Cavy Monahan scoring for the Lakers. Once it got to seven-on-seven play in overtime, the Lakers were a bit more comfortable.

Katie Ammann, who already had an assist, flashed open and then put in the winning goal past the Panthers’ Jessica Suslik. Cazenovia goalie Shea Flanner finished with three saves.

Cazenovia looked for a less stressful effort at Cato-Meridian on Friday, and got it, smashing past the Blue Devils 6-0 with a first-half scoring barrage that came from several sources.

Monahan converted twice, as did Lily Sorbello for the first time in her varsity career. Peyton Basic and Carely Loundsbury also scored as the Lakers’ defense limited Cato to just two shots.

And now Cazenovia will have five straight home games at Burton Street Elementary, starting Monday with Weedsport and continuing Thursday with a visit from defending Section III Class A champion Baldwinsville.