From 17 goals scored against Jordan-Elbridge to eight goals allowed against Marion, the Cazenovia girls soccer team went through some extreme behavior in the first week of September.
Things would get a little more settled in the week that followed, starting with last Monday’s visit from Homer, a close contest that ultimately went 1-0 in the Lakers’ favor.
During the first half, Cazenovia took the lead on Lili Gavitt’s unassisted goal. Homer allowed nothing else, Catherine Apker making 10 saves overall for the Trojans.
That left a long period for the Lakers to protect its one-goal advantage. It did so with a disciplined defense and fine work in the net by Tessa Hansknecht, who stopped all eight of Homer’s shots.
Now Cazenovia would travel to Hyatt Stadium to face Skaneateles on Wednesday night. This Lakers clash would prove tense from start to finish, but with exceptional defense the visiting Lakers pulled out another 1-0 victory.
Few expected that Annie Baldwin’s first-half goal would hold up the rest of the night – but it did so, Cazenovia managing to withstand all of the charges Skaneateles threw at them .
Caitlin Smithers anchored that back line, constantly frustrating Skaneateles forwards as teammates Molly Dolan, Megan Hughes, Ava Gavitt and Claire Edwards all made big contributions, too. Even when shots got on the net, Hansknecht turned them away.
Back home Friday night to face Carthage, Cazenovia did not want a letdown, and it did get the victory, holding off the Comets 3-2.
Those three goals came from three different players, Baldwin’s tally sandwiched in between goals by Katie Rajkowski and Lili Gavitt. Baldwin and Gavitt also earned assists.
Chittenango, meanwhile, had roared to a 3-0 start, and continued to produce big numbers last Tuesday against Jordan-Elbridge, the Bears reaching double digits in a 10-1 romp over the Eagles.
Five goals in each half ultimately led to hat tricks for Ally Shoemaker and Sarah Martin, each of them scoring three times. Maryanna Garcia and Emily Moon added two goals apiece, Martin also getting a pair of assists as Madison Wagner added an assist.
Now Chittenango faced the prospect of five consecutive road games that would largely define its regular season, and the easiest of them was the first one on Thursday, atHomer.
Against the same Trojans side Cazenovia had fought past earlier in the week, the Bears were much more impressive, rolling to a 6-0 victory as it scored twice in the first half and doubled that production after the break.
Moon produced two goals and two assists, with Shoemaker also converting twice. Garcia and Samantha Morton also earned goals, with Brooke Walters matching Moon’s pair of assists.
That road continues with Chittenango at Christian Brothers Academy on Monday and Skaneateles on Wednesday night before big tests at traditional powers Westhill and Marcellus the following week. The Bears aren’t home again until Sept. 28, when it faces Cicero-North Syracuse.
Cazenovia has its own game against CBA on Wednesday night, in between a Monday trip to Oneida and a Friday visit from Westhill as part of Homecoming festivities.
