Three wins in four games at the end of 2018 had taken some of the pain away from the Cazenovia ice hockey team following seven consecutive defeats.

However, things got tougher in the Lakers’ first game of the new year as it fell, 4-0, to Cicero-North Syracuse in a Division I game last Monday night at the Cicero Twin Rinks.

All of the Northstars’ goals were scored in the first two periods, with Cazenovia unable to get any of its 20 shots past C-NS goaltender Jordan Miller.

Jake DenBleyker, with two goals and one assist, and Matt Cramer, with a goal and two assists, paced the C-NS attack as Aidan Long had the other goal. In defeat, Lakers goalie Logan Palmer made 27 saves.

Cazenovia then traveled to Kennedy Arena Friday night to face Rome Free Academy, and the same result took place, the Lakers unable to get on the board and falling to the Black Knights by a 4-0 margin.

Under constant assault all night, Palmer managed a season-best 51 saves, never allowing RFA to make a sustained scoring run. Still, the Black Knights converted at least once in each period as Griffin Eychner and Kyle Lubey each had one goal and one assist, with Jake Hall and Logan Dorfman also finding the net.

Twice this week, Cazenovia is on the road, facing West Genesee Tuesday at Shove Park and then going north Friday to take on Watertown IHC.