Having dropped three consecutive games on the road to open its season, the Cazenovia ice hockey team would have, in most circumstances, felt quite good to return to Morrisville State IcePlex for last week’s action.

Except that, in this case, the Lakers’ first pair of home games was against both of last year’s Section III Division I finalists, with reigning champion Syracuse showing up last Tuesday and prevailing by a 10-0 margin.

Cazenovia only managed eight shots all night, and Syracuse, consistent in its attack, scored at least three times in each period to overcome 44 saves by Lakers goalie Logan Palmer.

Eight different Cougars picked up at least one goal, with only Philip Zollo finding the net more than once as he got a three-goal hat trick. Steve Matro had one goal and three assists, with Andrew Corning getting a goal and two assists.

Instead of a respite, Cazenovia instead had to face the other 2018 sectional Division I finalist, Baldwinsville, on Friday night. And though it was a lot closer, the Lakers were shut out again, this time by a 4-0 margin.

Spreading it around, the Bees had four players – Parker Schroeder, Lucas Hoskin, Mike Carni and Cam Sweeney – get those four goals, with another fine effort from Palmer keeping the Lakers closer.

Things might get easier this week, with Cazenovia going to Onondaga Nation Arena to face CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt on Tuesday before a Friday home game against Fulton