ONONDAGA COUNTY – For the first time in its storied history, the Skaneateles boys lacrosse team took to the field with someone other than Ron Doctor coaching them.
Seth Benjamin was set to take over as head coach of the Lakers, with Peter O’Connor as assistant coach, after Doctor retired in 2019, only to see lacrosse, and every other spring sport, get wiped out in 2020 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, nearly two years after it last saw action, Skaneateles returned – and would open against one of its main rivals, Marcellus, last Thursday night at Hyatt Stadium, and prove successful, battling past the Mustangs.
Amid cold, wet conditions, the Lakers built a 5-3 halftime advantage. Though that modest production continued in the third quarter, Skaneateles kept Marcellus off the board in that period and doubled its margin.
One line did most of the Lakers’ damage, Colin Morrissey notching four goals and one assist as Ryan Willard scored three times and added an assist. Grayson Brunelle had a goal and three assists as Jack Weeks had the other goal and Luke Renaud stopped 10 of the 16 shots he faced.
The Mustangs got 16 saves from goalie Quenten Polkowski as Marcus Darminio, Doryn LeClair and Adam Rayfield each scored twice, Darmino adding two assists.
When Marcellus played again on Saturday, against Auburn, it again went through a mid-game drought, this time not scoring in the second quarter of a 12-8 loss to the Maroons.
Down 5-4 through one period, the Mustangs played solid defense the rest of the half and traded goals with Auburn in the third quarter, but was unable to catch up.
LeClair and Darminio had two goals apiece, with LeClair adding a pair of assists. Sean Tierney also got two assists as Rayfield, Ryan Moses, Trevor Widrick and Dieter Steigerwald had one goal apiece. Colin Tardif’s two goals and five assists paced the Auburn attack.
Westhill, who in 2018 made a run to the state Class C championship game, began its season last Wednesday with an emphatic effort against Chittenango, prevailing by a score of 20-7.
Will Delano matched the Bears all by himself, scoring seven times as Griffin Grooms was close behind with five goals and one assist. Luke Gilmartin and Kyle Rosenberger had three goals apiece as Kyle Clayton and James Schneider had the other goals.
Then the Warriors faced reigning state Class D champion LaFayette on Friday and had a different outcome, taking a 14-10 defeat to the Lancers.
Gilmartin landed three goals and one assist, with Delano and Grooms both scoring twice. Rosenberger, Schneider and Brian Allen earned the other goals and Owen Mahar made 14 saves, but LaFayette still won, Jameson Bucktooth picking up five goals and three assists to pace the Lancers.
It was a far less enjoyable season opener for Jordan-Elbridge, who had to take on Homer and was overwhelmed in a 20-1 loss as the Trojans’ Jared Matthews led his side with six goals and four assists. The Eagles then fell to Chittenango 16-5 on Saturday afternoon.
