Even as it has shown gradual improvement throughout a busy month of April, the Cazenovia boys lacrosse team was still seeking a bit of a breakthrough during the week of the April school break.
One nearly happened in last Tuesday’s game at Tully, where the Lakers made a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback, only to fall 9-8 in overtime to the Black Knights.
All through the early stages, Cazenovia struggled, shut out in both the first and third quarters as Tully built a 7-2 advantage, but once it started winning face-offs at the start of the final period, the Lakers charged.
Cazenovia outscored thte Black Knights 6-1 in that fourth quarter, the rally led by Cole Basic, who finished with four goals as Brian Pezzi got a goal and two assists. Brody Coleman and Trey Schug each had one goal and one assist, with Tony Heaney adding a goal.
However, Tully got the possession in OT and put the game-winner past Ian Fostveit, who had eight saves to that point. Tyler Edinger, with two goals and three assists, paced the Black Knights as its goalie, Glen Wilson, recorded 17 saves.
Now Cazenovia hosted New Hartford on Thursday afternoon, and it earned its second victory of the season, playing terrific defense from start to finish as it took out the Spartans 7-4.
Neither team produced much until the second quarter, when the Lakers moved out in front 4-2 and then reinforced that lead by blanking New Hartford in the third period, Fostveit ultimately stopping eight of the 12 shots he faced.
Having a part in more than half his team’s scoring plays, Basic finished with three goals and one assist. Goals also went to Pezzi, Schug, Cody Dickinson and Gannon Houghton, with Coleman and Heaney adding assists.
Meanwhile, Chittenango returned to action against Jordan-Elbridge last Thursday afternoon and, despite a fine effort, could not overcome a slow start as it lost 10-9 to the Eagles.
The Bears were down 4-1 at the end of the first quarter, forcing it into catch-up mode. Zeph Scott and Shane Kolb led the chase, each scoring three times as Scott added two assists.
Caleb Barnard had two goals, with Ethan Robles adding a goal and Brad Tily adding an assist. Corey Jackowski got 12 saves, but J-E held on thanks to 14 saves from its goalie, Steve Tripp, plus an attack led by Luke Pinckney’s four goals.
Cazenovia, 2-6 midway through the regular season, would face Marcellus twice this week, on Tuesday and Saturday, with a Thursday trip to Westhill in between. Chittenango has three games against Holland Patent, CBA and Homer in a four-day span starting on Monday.
