A season ago, the Cazenovia girls lacrosse team came awfully close to ending Skaneateles’ long reign atop the Section III Class C ranks. That hasn’t happened yet, but in the first regular-season encounter between the two Laker rivals Tuesday at Solvay’s Earl Hadley Stadium, Cazenovia came out on top by a score of 14-11. It would not take heavy lifting for Cazenovia to improve from its 2008 mark of 15-6, which included a close Class C semifinal defeat to Skaneateles. Eight starters are back, including North Carolina-bound senior Kara Cannizzaro, plus the likes of Katie Kleine, Gabby Jaquith, Whitney Goris, Julie Gregg, Kendra Volz and Clare Dorsey. Meanwhile, Skaneateles saw most of its starting lineup graduate, which gives all the Class C contenders, including Cazenovia, a chance to finally catch them. On a neutral field at Solvay, Cazenovia would prove the better of the two Laker sides — at least for now. Each team had sustained offensive runs in the first half, the defenses absorbing some punishment. Cazenovia pushed its way out front, 8-7, by halftime. Kleine, Goris and the rest of the Cazenovia back line stepped up in the second half, making the subtle adjustments necessary to keep Skaneateles from coming back while the lead gradually grew. Cannizzaro had much to do with that success, putting home seven goals and adding an assist. Jaquith followed with three goals and two assists as Gregg scored twice. Volz had a goal and two assists as Dorsey also converted. Skaneateles, in defeat, got three goals from Maddy Morrissey and two goals from Katherine Pille.