CENTRAL NEW YORK – Part of the good fortune for the Cazenovia boys lacrosse team is that, due to its combined make-up with Chittenango and other schools, it will not have to work past powerful opponents like Marcellus or Skaneateles come playoff time.
The Lakers got an up-close look at the 9-0 Mustangs last Tuesday night and would have a rough first half, something it could not overcome in a 12-7 defeat.
During those first two quarters, Cazenovia rarely had the ball and, when it did, kept giving it back to a Marcellus side that would steadily work its way to a 7-1 advantage by the break.
To its credit, the Lakers outscored the Mustangs in the second half largely due to Brendon Barnard, who led all individuals with five goals.
However, only Forrest Ives (who got 11 ground balls) and D.B. Falge otherwise found the net, the pair joining Alex Kuper in the assist column as Tucker Ives made seven saves. Bryson Weaver got seven ground balls and Tom Navin five ground balls.
For Marcellus, Adam Rayfield scored four times and got two assists, while Doryn LeClair had two goals and four assists. Chris Doshna got two goals and two assists as Nick Rayfield and Jimmy Cox also had two-goal outings.
It didn’t get easier on Thursday night, Cazenovia mostly shut down during a 9-3 defeat to Skaneateles, who put together a ferocious defensive effort that only surrendered single goals from Barnard, Falge and Forrest Ivee.
Everything else got turned back by Skaneateles goalies Jack Marquardt and Lucas Logan, who made seven total saves as Grayson Brunelle scored four times on the other end, helped by Sean Kerwick’s two goals and one assist.
Seeking to end this skid Saturday at Central Square, Cazenovia did so in an emphatic manner, shutting out the Redhawks for the entire second half on the way to a 13-2 victory.
Forrest Ives broke out with five goals and three assists. Barnard got four goals and four assists, with Falge and Navin both converting twice.
Now Cazenovia, at 6-5 overall, gets to breathe for a bit, only playing once this week when it visited Jordan-Elbridge on Tuesday night.
