CENTRAL NEW YORK – Disappointment quickly turned to optimism for the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team as soon as the 2022 season ended with a defeat to Bronxville in the state Class D championship game.
Returning nearly everyone from that team and adding back injured goalie Emily Evans, the Lakers wasted little time establishing itself as the team to beat in the area small-school ranks.
During its April 1 opener against Section II’s Shaker at Hyatt Stadium, Skaneateles rattled off nine unanswered goals in the first half, breezing from there to beat the Blue Bison 12-2.
Junior Camryn Calabro emerged as a force for the Lakers, finding the net four times and adding an assist as Julia O’Connor earned three goals and one assist.
Paige Willard scored twice and got an assist. Lilly Marquardt earned four assists as she joined Rachel Hackler and Bella Brogan with single goals, Hackler and Brogan also joining Anasofia Cirincione in the assist column.
Hosting Honeoye Falls-Lima last Thursday, the Lakers took a different approach, this time taking charge in the second half on the way to a 14-8 victory over the Cougars
HF-L was strong early and, at halftime, were tied 4-4. But the Lakers started controlling more draws and wore down the Cougars’ defenses as O’Connor, with four goals and two assists, led the way.
Close behind her, Marquardt and Calabro had three-goal hat tricks. Marquardt also got two assists as Willard had a goal and three assists. Brogan and Mara Stanton both had one goal and one assist, Cirincione adding a goal.
Marcellus saw a late lead get away last Monday in a 10-9 defeat to Whitesboro, who outscored the Mustangs 6-2 in the second half.
Just two players – Cece Powell, with five goals, and Claire Card, with four goals – accounted for all of the Marcellus production, the Warriors showing a bit more depth to overcome Janie Powell’s 12 saves.
Jordan-Elbridge made a solid recovery from its 17-10 defeat to Whitesboro on April 1 where Kelsey Brunelle and Riley Crawford had three goals apiece. Lily Humphries scored twice, with Stella Opanhoske and Makayla Penird getting one goal apiece and Penird adding two assists.
Against Mexico last Monday, the Eagles scored as many goals, but improved on defense and beat the Tigers 10-7, all the offense coming from Brunelle and Penird, with four goals apiece, and Crawford, who added two goals.
Westhill battled past Liverpool 9-5 last Monday behind a defense that kept any Liverpool player from netting more than one goal and got eight saves from goalie Anna Rosenberger.
