SKANEATELES – For six games, the Skaneateles girls ice hockey team was close to unstoppable, defeating its opponents by a combined margin of 43-7.
Yet the Lakers still had not faced Clinton, the reigning Section III and state champions against whom it had lost five consecutive games dating back to early 2020.
Trying to change the course of this rivalry, Skaneateles hosted Clinton at Allyn Arena last Monday night and got off to a great start, only to see the Warriors fight back and ultimately pull out a 3-2 decision.
Initially, the concern for the Lakers was how well it would play after a break of more than two weeks since its 5-2 win over Massena on Dec. 17.
But Lizzy Sachar and Scout Oudemool both put in first-period goals, Rachelle Cain earning an assist, to help Skaneatlees grab a quick 2-0 advantage.
Clinton moved within one by period’s end on Leola Johnson’s goal and then tied it in the second period when Lauren Rey found the net.
Much of the game was spent in the Warriors’ end, but despite relentless Sknaeateles pressure it could not put anything more past Clinton goaltender Casey Clausen.
This was especially the case in the third period, when the Lakers managed 20 shots – and Clausen stopped all of them to move her total to 41 saves.
With five minutes left, Kelsey Fuller redirected Alyssa Nardslico’s pass past Isabelle Wells for the go-ahead goal, and Clinton held on from there, only adding to the intrigue for this Tuesday’s rematch at Clinton Arena.
The Lakers were scheduled to play twice before that rematch, including Thursday’s trip to Oswego to meet a Buccaneers side it topped 3-1 early in December, plus a game against Potsdam on Saturday. Both got postponed, though, as winter weather returned to join COVID-19 as scheduling obstacles.
