MORRISVILLE – Back-to-back defeats to Section II foes on the opening weekend of December seemed to suggest that the Cazenovia ice hockey team was due for a letdown after its 2021-22 success.
But when the Lakers faced Watertown IHC in Tuesday’s home opener at the SUNY-Morrisville IcePlex, it put together a fine all-around effort and defeated the Cavaliers 4-2 to enter the win column.
Two newcomers, sophomores Nat Gale and Shamus Newcomb, netted their first Cazenovia goals in the opening period to produce a 2-1 advantage as the Lakesr took 18 shots to IHC’s five, controlling the flow of play.
The Cavaliers tied it in the second on Luc Lafex’s goal, but Jack Donlin converted with just 37 seconds left in the period to give Cazenovia the lead for good.
Donlin tacked on an insurance goal in the third, having also earned an assist earlier in the game. Ezra Stahlberg, in goal, stopped 17 of IHC’s 19 shots for his first win between the pipes.
After a week to rest and practice, things step up in a big way for the Lakers next Wednesday when reigning sectional Division I champion West Genesee visits the IcePlex before back-to-back weekend games against Cicero-North Syracuse and Whitesboro on Dec. 16-17.
