The long, winding journey that the Cazenovia field hockey team took to reach the 2020 season included safety concerns and schedule changes right up to the time the games got underway.
A week before things were to finally start, the Lakers learned that Onondaga High School League rival Cato-Meridian had canceled all fall sports, wiping out what was supposed to be last Monday’s season opener as well as an Oct. 16 rematch.
Scrambling, Cazenovia was able to add an Oct. 17 home game against Baldwinsville, leaving it with a 10-game slate that would mix league contests with other home-and-home battles – including one with Fayetteville-Manlius.
It was the Hornets visiting Burton Street Elementary School last Tuesday afternoon amid clouds and plenty of falling leaves, and the two sides played 70 minutes without either side getting on the scoreboard in a 0-0 tie.
Games that used to consist of 30-minute halves now have 15-minute quarters, partly to give players a chance to take off their masks and get a breather before resuming play.
From the outset, the Lakers were cautious, waiting for opportune moments to attack but content on allowing F-M to make several runs at them.
This put plenty of pressure on defenders Maddie Young, Ainsley Schug and Sophie Clancy, but they all were superb, with Young making a well-timed stop near the cage late in the first half on the Hornets’ best scoring chance.
All through regulation and the 10 minutes of seven-on-seven overtime, most of F-M’s pushes were cast aside before they could get point-blank shots, including a handful of penalty corners, thanks to 10 saves from goalie Mackenie Halliday.
Cazenovia only had two shots of its own, but it put on far more pressure during the OT period, making a series of runs that it could not convert into a game-winning goal.
It was the first of four consecutive home games, with Weedsport paying a visit on Thursday afternoon and, once again, the defense was superb with a shutout, which got rewarded with a 1-0 victory over the Warriors.
Yet another scoreless first half caused some frustration, as did the fact that the Lakers’ constant attacks were turned back thanks to nine saves from Weedsport goalie Mariah Quigley.
But the patience of Cazenovia’s front line finally produced a goal when Hadley Schug, taking a pass from Carley Lounsbury, beat Quigley for the go-ahead tally.
Homer tests 1-0-1 Lakers next Tuesday prior to B’ville’s visit at week’s end.
