ONONDAGA COUNTY – Not so long ago, the prospect of anyone in area Division II ice hockey threatening Skaneateles, or even keeping up with them, seemed unlikely.
But the early stages of the 2022-23 season have revealed some vulnerability for the Lakers, and what happened in Tuesday night’s 3-2 overtime defeat to Cortland-Homer at Allyn Arena reinforced that point.
It started out just fine for Skaneateles. Goals by Henry Major and Cole Palmer, with assists to Alex Whitlock and Jack Marquardt, had the Lakers up 2-0 on the Golden Eagles through one period.
But from that point forward, Sknaeateles could not get anything past Cortland-Homer’s pair of goalies, Garret Clark and Cole Mead, who combined for 21 saves and cleared the way for a comeback.
Single goals in the second and third periods forced OT, and the Golden Eagles won it in the extra period as Andrew Partigianoni led the way, scoring twice and adding an assist on Mitchell Riter’s goal.
All of this made Thursday’s game against visiting Christian Brothers Academy/Jamesville-Dewitt more pivotal – and the Lakers used that urgency to string together a fine all-around effort to beat the Brothers 4-0.
While it helped that CBA/J-D had played the day before at Auburn (winning 3-2), Skaneateles still needed to prove it could hold a lead after Jack Torrey scored in the first period.
Chad Lowe made sure of this, the Lakers goalie constantly turning away the Brothers’ chances and stopping all 28 shots he faced. And he got further support when Major scored in each of the last two periods.
Andrew Gaglione converted, too, adding two assists as Andrew Falkenberg piled up three assists. Single assists went to Whitlock and Sean Kerwick.
Up in Division I, West Genesee basked in its 3-0 start – at least until it had to face Section V power Pittsford Thursday night at Shove Park.
But the Wildcats passed the examination from the Panthers, prevailing 4-2 for its fourth win in a row in a game filled with end-to-end action.
Barely two minutes had passed when Liam Burns, off feeds from Ryan Considine and Jack Mellen, scored to give WG a 1-0 lead, but Pittsford got even before the period ended.
It was still 1-1 late in the second period when Michael Hard found the net and, 55 seconds later, Owen Zoanetti converted, with Considine getting his second assist.
Up 3-1, The Wildcats saw the Panthers pull within one in the third, but give up nothing more as Will Shields, with 3:30 left, got the clinching goal. Zoanetti and Will Schneid both had assists as Luke Beck recorded 22 saves.
