For a time in January, the Cazenovia ice hockey team had emerged from its doldrums, following an 0-7 start with wins in four of six games and moving up the Division I standings.
But after a close call with powerhouse West Genesee on Jan. 28, things turned against the Lakers, who found itself suffering a fourth consecutive defeat last Tuesday when it fell to Fulton 4-0.
Much of the story was the way that Cazenovia constantly attacked, and constantly got turned back, Fulton goaltender Jadon Lee somehow stopping all 39 shots he faced.
Cy McCrink finished with 28 saves, but the Cazenovia goalie could not keep everything out. Derek Schumaker led the Red Raiders with two goals and one assist, with John Dingman and Freddy White each getting one goal and one assist.
Back home at Morrisville State IcePlex on Thursday night, Cazenovia faced Fayetteville-Manlius, who at 7-2-1 now sat in third place in the Division I standings and had won four in a row.
The Hornets maintained that hot streak and, like Fulton, would defeat the Lakers by a score of 4-0.
A Saturday game at Ithaca followed, and though Cazenovia’s shutout streak ended, it still could not turn things around, taking a 4-1 defeat to the Little Red.
This followed an 8-3 loss to New Hartford on Feb. 1 where it was close early, the Lakers only trailing 2-1 through one preiod, but the Spartans got away led by Logan Kraft (two goals, one assist) and Jack Darby (one goal, three assists).
Between them, Cazenovia goalies Nick Korosec and Owen Bailey did their best to keep things within range against New Hartford, the pair combining for 28 saves.
On Tuesday, the Lakers play at Mohawk Valley to conclude its regular season.
