While the Cazenovia field hockey team tore through the Onondaga High School League once more, only Cortland had been able to keep up, adding increased meeting to their clash Tuesday on the Purple Tigers’ home turf. So the Lakers went out and impressed in all phases of the game, beating Cortland 4-0 to both lock up the OHSL title and, at the same time, extend its league win streak to an astonishing 59 straight games. They had first played Sept. 23 at Burton Street, with the Lakers winning by a 5-0 margin as Tori Widrick led the way with two goals and one assist. Nearly a month later, Widrick and Abby Eschen made sure that the rematch at Cortland followed the exact same path. With a steady attack that produced 20 shots, Cazenovia worked its way to a 2-0 lead by halftime, then continued to spend large chunks of time in the Purple Tigers’ end in the second half while doubling its margin. Through it all, Eschen scored twice, the passes coming from Widrick, who produced a pair of assists to go with her lone goal. Belle Hoagland notched the other goal, with Mary Kate Conley also contributing an assist. Cazenovia’s strong defense also played an active role, holding Cortland to just two shots all game as Molly Hudson, Ellen Burr, Rachel Nourse, Raeanne Clabeaux and SarahRose Gabor effectively formed a wall around goalie Emily Mastropaolo. With that test complete, Cazenovia got one more big challenge Saturday night when it played at defending Class A champion Rome Free Acacdemy. And for a half, the Lakers were brilliant – but the Black Knights still rallied to beat them 3-2. During that first half, Widrick and Hoagland both scored, pushing Cazenovia to a 2-0 lead. Somehow, RFA regrouped and, after the break, rallied behind Stacie Skidmore, who had two goals and assisted on Kaysie Gregory’s tally. Just before this, In the make-up to the rained-out Oct. 15 game against Homer, the Lakers demolished the Trojans 10-0 in its last regular-season home outing. Eschen again stood out, landing a three-goal hat trick and adding two assists, but it was Jenna Raleigh enjoying a career-best effort as she also scored three times and added an assist.
Hoagland chimed in with a goal and two assists, with Widridk and Jessy Silfer each finishing with one goal and one assist. Jillian Vogl also converted as Conley and Kara Stalder found the assist column, too. Another big event took place last Tuesday when rivals Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Oneida met once again, with the Red Devils beating the Indians 2-0. A special touch was added to the game as both teams, promoting breast cancer awareness, wore pink on this day – the host Indians had pink T-shirts, the Red Devils pink outlines to black T-shirt. Prior to the game, VVS players had raised $1,200 for cancer awareness at a fund-raiser in Utica. As for the game itself, Oneida kept the Red Devils off the board until the 22-minute mark of the first half, when Ashley Kavanaugh put home a rebound of her own shot. Less than two minutes before halftime, Ashley Palmer, who had many chances to score earlier in the game, took a pass from Briana Rascoe and converted to double the Red Devils’ margins. Despite numerous penalty corners at half’s end, and despite an entire second half to see Morgan Bernier get stopped on charges to the net, Oneida could not get on the board. In defeat, Tiffany Deeley made 11 saves on the Indians’ behalf, while VVS goalie Ellen Depasquale stopped all six shots she faced. Prior to that, Oneida, taking part in the weather-postponed Sauquoit Valley Tournament, rallied for a 2-1 victory over Clinton. Natalie Fiore scored in the first half to put the Warriors up 1-0, but the Indians came back as Morgan Bernier and Brianna Wean both got goals. Adrianna Cortes and Abby McNichol earned assists. Casey Woodcock had six saves.