CENTRAL NEW YORK – All that the growth the Skaneateles girls ice hockey team went through during the 2022-23 season would get measured as it tried to repeat its Section III and state regional championships.
At least the sectional crown is within reach, the Lakers again set to duel with Clinton for that title next Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Onondaga Nation Arena in Nedrow, looking to avenge two regular-season defeats to the Warriors.
In Thursday’s sectional semifinal against Oswego, Skaneateles, for the third time this winter, got the best of the Buccaneers, this time with a 3-0 shutout.
The 5-1 and 2-1 decisions from before gave the Lakers confidence and it gradually gained control against Oswego, patiently working its attack.
A goal in each period was enough, Cora Major netting two of them and Rylee Catalano getting the other as Finley Hogan, Kelly Goldberger and Lily Kennedy had one assist apiece. In the net, Isabelle Wells stopped all 15 of the Bucs’ shots.
This followed an impressive Senior Night performance Monday against Alexandria Bay where the Lakers put together a 7-0 shutout to improve its record to 6-4.
For the second consecutive game, Scout Oudemool recorded a hat trick, her three goals pacing an attack where Kennedy had a goal and two assists.
Goldberger and Hogan each got one goal and one assist, Josie Rioux adding a goal as Major and Julia Quinn both picked up two assists. Single assists went to Sam Catalano and Rylee Catalano.
Back on Jan. 21, Skaneateles blanked Clarkstown North 9-0, Oudemool netting four goals to pace an attack that displayed plenty of depth.
Rylee Catalano had a goal and two assists, with Hogan and Goldberger each getting one goal and one assist. Rioux and and Josie Rioux also found the net as Lilly Marquardt, Ali Yockell and Kendra Garlock were credited with assists.
Over in boys ice hockey, Skaneateles had not allowed a goal since the second period of a Jan. 10 win over Cortland-Homer – a stretch of more than 221 minutes of ice time.
Finally, that shutout streak ended last Tuesday at Whitesboro, but it didn’t matter much because the state Division II no. 4-ranked Lakers still wiped out the Warriors 8-1 for its sixth win in a row in its only action of the week.
A steady, relentless attack showed a lot of diversity, too, with Jack Marquardt going to the forefront with two goals and two assists as Jack Torrey had a goal and three assists.
Andrew Gaglione also scored twice, with Henry Major getting a goal and two assists. Alex Whitlock and Cole Palmer each had one goal and one assist as Andrew Falkenberg and Kaden Rutledge had two assists apiece.
