CENTRAL NEW YORK – Though they could both take solace in earning records of .500 or better this spring, the Cazenovia and Chittenango girls lacrosse team’s stays in the Section III playoffs proved short ones.
In Class D, the no. 5 seed Lakers met up with no. 4 seed Marcellus Tuesday night and found itself overwhelmed in the first half and unable to recover during a 16-4 defeat to the Mustangs.
These teams had met April 24 and it had gone 17-3 in Marcellus’ favor. Any thought that the rematch might prove closer dissipated when the Mustangs jumped out 11-2 on Cazenovia by halftime.
Despite goals from Katie Rajkowski, Sammy Sparks, Riley Knapp and Dali Dennison, plus eight saves from Mackenzie Halladay, the Lakers were again humbled by a deep, balanced Marcellus attack.
Five different Mustangs had multiple goals, led by Cece Powell, who scored four times. Anna Spitzer and Quinn Burnett had three goals apiece, with Annalise Bird and Lucy Powell each netting two goals.
Meanwhile, in Class C, Chittenango also had the no. 5 seed, traveling north to face no. 4 seed Indian River, where the Bears could not keep up in an 18-11 defeat to the Warriors.
Proving that its 11-4 regular-season mark was not a fluke, IR got huge games from Ravan Marsell, who earned seven goals and three assists, and Michaela Dales, who had six goals and two assists.
Chittenango had no one with totals to match Marsell and Dales, even though Brooke Walters did score five times and Ashley O’Hara amassed three goals and four assists.
Cara Kielbasa got two assists as single goals went to Tomi Newkirk, Ashlyn Brown and Alazayah Smith. Abby Penfield made 12 saves. Chittenango’s season ended with an 8-9 mark.
