CENTRAL NEW YORK – It did not matter the format, or the bracket. Almost every time an area high school girls team took the field in the Section III playoffs, it did so expecting to keep its pursuit of a championship alive – and all of them did so.

Marcellus, holding the no. 2 seed in Class B, broke out in a massive way during Tuesday’s opening round, smashing no. 15 seed Sherburne-Earlville by a 14-0 margin.

Though the outcome was lopsided, it was also important because it gave long-time Mustangs coach Laurie Updike her 400th career win in a remarkable career that spans 24 years and includes a pair of state Class B titles in 2003 and 2004 and a host of other league, sectional and regional titles.

Jadyn Baker’s four goals and one assist led the way, though Janie Powell (three goals, one assist) also had a hat trick. Corrine Aldrich scored twice and added an assist as Cece Powell, Drew Johnson, Claire Card, Neve Murphy and Marielle Kennedy also converted, Alie Kaup getting an assist.

By stark contrast, Skaneateles, with the no. 3 seed, had to sweat out a tense 1-0 win over Faith Heritage. Jadyn Rathbun made 11 saves in goal for the Saints and kept it scoreless until Paige Willard, in the second half, put in the game-winner, assisted by Bella Pietropaoli.

Now, if they won their respective quarterfinal games on Thursday, the Lakers and Mustangs would face each other in the semifinals – and they did, repeating the pattern of the first round.

Marcellus put away no. 7 seed Cazenovia 4-0, and it was Cece Powell’s show. The sophomore burned those other Lakers for three goals, running her season total to 27, and assisted on Janie Powell’s goal, too.

Aldrich and Kaup took turns assisting on Cece Powell’s tallies, and a stingy Marcellus defense held Cazenovia to just two shots.

Skaneateles, meanwhile, found itself in a long, tense battle with no. 6 seed Holland Patent that lingered until penalty kicks resolved it in the Lakers’ favor.

For 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, the Golden Knights kept Skaneateles off the board, only to not take advantage of it and move out in front.

With nothing settled, it went to penalty kicks 0-0. All four times it had turns, the Lakers converted, while in HP’s case it hit a post and saw Mara Stanton make a clutch stop.

And it sets up the semifinal and rivalry renewal, Marcellus and Skaneateles having split two regular-season meetings with the winner of the third encounter next Tuesday at South Jefferson getting Lowville or CBA Friday night at SUNY-Cortland in the sectional final.

Westhill had moved away from this into Class A, where as the top seed it seemed bound for a showdown with no. 2 seed and reigning state champion New Hartford in this Friday’s final at Cortland, if they both get through semifinals next Tuesday at Chittenango – Westhill against Indian River, New Hartford against Jamesville-DeWitt.

Taking the first step, the Warriors topped no. 9 seed Vernon-Verona-Sherrill 4-0 in the quarterfinals, building a 3-0 edge by halftime as Kara Rosenberger, with a goal and two assists, led a well-balanced attack. Hannah Goodness, Siena Jetter and Grace Enriquez had the other goals, with Elle Herrera adding an assist.

Bishop Ludden held the no. 2 seed in Class D, beating no. 15 seed Old Forge 2-0 in the first round. It was scoreless until Ashley Pawelczyk and Elizabeth Gaughan both earned second-half goals, the Gaelic Knights holding a 12-3 shot advantage.

Then, in Saturday’s quarterfinal against no. 7 seed Remsen, Ludden braved cold, wet conditions and, striking for all of its goals in the first half, knocked out the Rams 3-0.

Pawelczyk earned her 33rd and 34th goals of the season, the other going to Gaughan, who added an assist. Mary Detor and Sophia Chemotti also had assists, the Gaelic Knights setting up a sectional semifinal showdown with no. 3 seed Poland Wednesday at Nottingham, the winner to get Cincinnatus or Copenhagen in the Class D final.