CENTRAL NEW YORK – One win by the Cazenovia girls soccer team over Christian Brothers Academy was sweet, especially given that it required overtime to prevail over the Brothers Sept. 23 at Alibrandi Stadium.
But when these same two teams got together again Tuesday at the Sean Googin Sports Complex, the Lakers took a modest lead and turned into a comfortable one, the late surge producing a 5-2 win over the Brothers.
Cazenovia’s defense ruled in the first half, keeping CBA quiet as it inched in front, 1-0, and when the defense struggled to contain the Brothers in the late going, the attack answered in a big way.
Ultimately, five different players netted the Lakers’ five goals. Katie Rajkowski and Julia Reff both had one goal and one assist, while Raeanne Thompson, Ella Baker and Cailtyn Smithers also converted. Skye Stanford recorded five saves.
Hosting Holland Patent two nights later for its last home game of the regular season, Cazenovia faced a far more difficult test, but was able to work its way past the Golden Knights 2-1.
Each side found the net in the first half, so it wasn’t until the second half that the Lakers were able to pull in front of HP for good, hanging on thanks to Stanford’s six saves.
Rajkowski scored, her team-best fifth of the season, while Thompson found the net and Baker picked up an assist, Cazenovia improving its overall record to 9-3-1.
Chittenango had played well late in September and was nearing the .500 mark – at least before it had to face Class B powerhouse Westhill, who blanked the Bears 6-0.
Rebecca Baldwin finished with 10 saves, but Westhill’s Lily Kinsella put three goals past her for a hat trick, the other three tallies going to Molly Dorfman, Jules Bleskoski and Hannah Goodness, who earned a pair of assists.
A 2-0 defeat to Hannibal followed two days later. Proving that its 9-3 record was far from a fluke, the Warriors used goals from Amber Clarke and Zoey Turaj to secure its 10th victory of the season.
Chittenango hosts Cazenovia in the final week of the regular season, the Lakers also making trips to Marcellus and Clinton before the Section III playoff pairings are announced.
