CENTRAL NEW YORK – Though boys lacrosse programs at Cazenovia and Chittenango have combined, the girls lacrosse varsity teams at the two neighboring Madison County schools remain on their own.
This only adds more meaning to when they meet head-to-head, as they did last Thursday night with the Lakers having to work hard in the second half to get away and earn a 10-6 victory over the Bears.
Cazenovia needed this win to return to the .500 mark at the halfway point of the regular season, and during the first half it constantly saw shots stopped by Bears goalie Abby Penfield, who finished the night with 18 saves, and was only able to take a 3-2 advantage to the break.
Gradually, though, the Lakers’ attack wore Chittenango down, with Katie Rajkowski earning three goals and one assist as Madison DeAngelis got two goals and two assists.
Hayden Bubble also converted twice, with Riley Knapp and Julia Reff each getting one goal and one assist. Charlie Prior added a goal. Lakers goalie Eliza Smith had seven saves.
Caitlyn Sgambellone, with three goals and one assist, accounted for most of Chittenango’s production. Tomi Newkirk added two goals and one assist as Persephone Rohrer had the other goal.
Entering the week, Chittenango was 0-6, but it had finally broke into the win column when it beat Mexico 10-5 two nights before it met Cazenovia.
In that game, a 5-3 edge on the Tigers by halftime grew more in the second half, Abby Penfield able to stop nine of Mexico’s 14 shots on goal.
Meanwhile, Tomi Newkirk carried the Bears’ attack, scoring four times and adding three assists. Caitlyn Sgambellone had three goals, with Cara Kielbasa converting twice, Kendra Garlock adding a goal and Reese Ferstler earning an assist.
After beating Chittenango, Cazenovia took on Marcellus Saturday afternoon and, despite a fine overall effort, could not quite keep up with the Mustangs, taking a 15-10 defeat.
Rajkowski was sensational, finishing with a season-best six goals. Knapp scored twice, with DeAngelis getting a goal and two assists and Bubble also finding the net, but no one on the Lakers could contain Marcellus standout Cece Powell, who amassed eight goals to put her season total at 40.
