CENTRAL NEW YORK – As a centerpiece of its Homecoming festivities, the Cazenovia girls soccer team would welcome Chittenango last Friday as the two neighbors and rivals would play the very first varsity athletic contest on the brand-new upper turf field on the Cazenovia High School campus.
And it proved to be a terrific game, with the Lakers determined to give the home fans a victory, but the Bears emerging on top by a 2-1 margin.
Despite its 3-7-1 record, Cazenovia hung close with a 6-3-1 Chittenango side all the way to the end, forcing Bears goalie Rebecca Baldwin to stop nine of the 10 shots she faced.
Goals by Abby Scheidelman (her 11th of the season) and Abby Baldwin helped Chittenango get through and exactly match the 2-1 decision the boys Bears got against the boys Lakers a few miles away.
Cazenovia was coming off a rough week that started last Monday at Skaneateles and featured plenty of strong defense by both Lakers sides.
They were scoreless when, in the second half, Skaneateles got on the board with Keating Morrissey’s goal. And it held up, Cazenovia falling by a 1-0 margin despite seven saves from goalie Skye Stanford.
At least that game was close, unlike Wednesday’s 7-1 defeat to state Class B no. 9-ranked Marcellus, who made an emphatic statement by having five different players net goals.
Overcoming 10 saves by Stanford, the Mustangs featured Claire Card and Cece Powell each earning two goals and one assist, while Jadyn Baker had one goal and one assist.
Chittenango had started its week last Monday with a 3-0 defeat to state Class A no. 8-ranked Westhill, the Bears limited to one shot. Meanwhile, the Warriors overcame 10 saves from Rebecca Baldwin.
Rosie Mahoney, with a goal and assist, led Westhill’s attack, the other goals going to Kara Rosenberger and Sienna Jetter. Hannah Goodness earned a pair of assists.
These struggles continued for the Bears in a 1-0 loss to Cortland two days later. Danica Peck’s first-half goal held up for the Purple Tigers as Lauren Mott turned away all eight of Chittenango’s direct shot attempts.
The Bears get games at Mexico and Bishop Grimes this week as Cazenovia also is on the road, facing Hannibal and Christian Brothers Academy.
