CENTRAL NEW YORK – Going through an entire regular season without a defeat in any sport anywhere is quite an accomplishment, and two area high school ice hockey teams pulled it off.
The Skaneateles girls hockey team did so without any blemish, capping this off with back-to-back victories against Clinton and Oswego early last week before it turned its attention to the Section III playoffs.
Not since 2016-17, when it earned its first state regional championship, has Skaneateles managed this unbeaten effort, and that was in some jeopardy against Clinton before the Lakers charged late and beat the Comets 3-1.
Cora Major’s first-period goal was all Skaneateles could manage against a tough Clinton defense in the early stages. In the second, the Comets pulled even when Eliza O’Donnell converted.
That 1-1 tie held until the third, when Skaneateles increased its pressure and it turned into two decisive goals, one each by Genevieve Smart and Layla Smart.
Now all that was left was Oswego, and in this game the strong Lakers defense made sure the Buccaneers did not get on the board in the course of a 3-0 decision.
Constant Skaneaeles pressure left Oswego few opportunities and it managed just 12 shots, all stopped by Brooke Coffey.
Overcoming 41 saves by Bucs goalie Regan Healy, Skaneateles went out in front 1-0 in the second period and then pulled away late, Genevieve Smart scoring twice and Layla Smart the other goal as Cora Major got two assists and Makayla Barron another assist.
With that 14-0 mark Skaneateles has a bye directly into this Thursday’s sectional final at Cicero Twin Rinks at 6:30 where the Lakers will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between Clinton and Oswego.
