CENTRAL NEW YORK – With all the ceremony of inaugurating its new artificial turf field behind them, the Cazenovia girls soccer team was bent on finding some winning form in October.
It didn’t happen, though, in last Monday’s game against Hannibal/Cato-Meridian, who despite its 2-9 record managed to play the Lakers to a 2-2 draw.
Even with goals from Caitlin Dolan and Ava Vanetti, Cazenovia saw Hannibal/Cato Meridian break through with Amber Clarke scoring twice off feeds from Zoey Turaj. Skye Stanford had 14 saves, but so did her counterpart, Hailey McCarthy.
Frustrating as that was, Cazenovia had to feel quite different on Thursday night in the wake of playing a strong Christian Brothersa Academy side to a 1-1 draw, Stanford making 15 saves as Brothers goalie Cara Macaluso had 12 saves.
Raeanne Thompson’s goal, assisted by Vanetti, got the Lakers on the board. CBA countered with one from Olivia Jones assisted by Francesca Canzano, but neither side would add to it.
Chittenango took its own setback last Tuesday against Mexico, seeing a two-goal advantage melt away in the second half of a 3-2 defeat to the Tigers.
The Bears took a 2-0 advantage into the last 40 minutes, only to see Mexico roar back, tying it and then moving in front thanks to Giana Cutuli scoring twice and Madison Poissant also finding the net.
Having fallen to 7-4-1, Chittenango would recover at Bishop Grimes on Friday afternoon, handling the Cobras 7-0 and getting its top scorer back into gear.
Abby Scheidelman found the net three times for a hat trick, giving her 16 goals for the season. Hannah Wagner had a goal and assist, with Abby Horning, Gracie Hayes-Brazell and Hannah DiCesare also converting and Madelyn Dziedzic earning an assist.
Three more games this week against Homer, Westhill and Phoenix will keep Chittenango busy until Sunday’s Section III playoff announcements as Cazenovia hosts Phoenix Tuesday and Skaneateles on Thursday night.
