At least on an official basis, the Cazenovia High School varsity lacrosse teams are among the few in Central New York still playing home games on natural grass surfaces.
But since, in years past, it took a long while for those fields at the Sean Googin Sports Complex to dry out and grow following harsh winters, both the boys and girls Lakers are playing a series of early-season home games at Cazenovia College’s Christakos Field.
In fact, the Cazenovia boys opened that way on Saturday, taking on LaFayette and finding itself unable to keep up with the visiting Lancers, taking an 18-10 defeat.
All game long, the Lakers’ production was steady. Cole Basic and Brian Petzi each produced three goals and one assist, with Brody Coleman getting two goals and two assists. Gannon Houghton and Cody Dickinson had single goals. Ian Fostvelt made nine saves.
Yet LaFayette took charge with a 7-2 push through the second quarter, eventually leading 17-7 through three periods as Trevor Hill scored four times. Kaleb Benedict, Reid Jackowski and Mason Homer each had three goals and one assist.
Meanwhile, the Cazenovia girls team will have its first “home” test this Saturday when it hosts Skaneateles, with two more (against Jordan-Elbridge April 16 and Westhill April 18) to follow on the Cazenovia College turf.
But the Lakers’ season began against Clinton last Thursday night at Hamilton College, another turf facility, and it started well, but could not sustain it in an 11-9 defeat to the Warriors.
Solid on both ends of the field in the early going, Cazenovia built a 6-2 halftime advantage, but Clinton turned it around after intermission, Mia Lopata netting most of her five goals and the Warriors’ defense containing the Lakers, too.
Molly Brown, with three goals and one assist, paced the Lakers, while Grace Rajkowski and Emily Puffer each found the net twice. Molly Schwartz and Megan Hughes had single goals, Laura Connor adding an assist as Mackenzie Halliday recorded nine saves.
A trip to Liverpool on Tuesday precedes the match with Skaneateles for the Cazenovia girls as the boys are at the college again to face Jordan-Elbridge Saturday after trips to Baldwinsville and Penn Yan.
