CENTRAL NEW YORK – After a pair of one-goal defeats in the first full week of April, the Cazenovia girls lacrosse team wanted to return to the win column quickly.
And the Lakers would do so last Thursday afternoon, when it faced Cortland and, battling both the opposition and surprising April heat, beat the Purple Tigers 12-8.
Knowing it had to strike early, Cazenovia steadily built a 9-4 advantage on Cortland by halftime, then slowed down the pace while producing enough to prevent a Purple Tigers rally.
Charlie Prior led with four goals. Riley Knapp scored three times, with Hayden Bubble dishing out four assists. Madison DeAngelis got two goals as Katie Rajkowski, Juila Reff and Sally Hughes had one goal apiece.
Two days later, it was Cazenovia measuring itself against undefeated, reigning sectional Class D champion Skaneateles, and finding out again just how good those other Lakers are.
During an 18-6 defeat, Cazenovia fell behind 14-1 by halftime, ultimately seeing Rajkowski and Izzy Stromer-Galley each net a pair of goals as Knapp and Prior had the other goals. Eliza Smith made seven saves as Mara Stanton (three goals, three assists) and Lilly Marquardt (three goals, three assists) paced Skaneateles.
Chittenango played its second game of the season last Tuesday against Christian Brothers Academy, but were overwhelmed in a 16-3 defeat to the Brothers.
Tomi Newkirk had two of the Bears’ three goals. Brooke Walters earned the other, with Cailtyn Sgambellone adding an assist as Maeve Mackenzie (four goals), Lilah Kirch (three goals, one assist) and Amelia Bonacci (two goals, five assists) paced the Brothers.
Two nights later, Chittenango lost 14-7 to Marcellus, seeing Claire Card (seven goals) and Cece Powell (five goals) carry the Mustangs’ attack as Newkirk and Sgambellone led the Bears with two goals apiece, the other goals going to Cara Kielbasa, Persephone Rohrer and Reese Ferstler.
