School indeed was in session in Cazenovia on Wednesday, even if some of the students weren’t sitting in classrooms.
Though the junior and senior High School had to close due to a water main break, sports contests went on, including the field hockey Lakers’ 2012 season opener against Weedsport at Burton Street Elementary’s athletic field.
And here was where the lessons were taught, as Cazenovia, the two-time defending state Class C champions, methodically put away the Warriors in a 4-0 shutout.
That was the Lakers’ 80th straight game without a loss against an Onondaga High School League opponent, and demonstrated that, while some big names have left the scene, many still remain.
The seven seniors that graduated from the 2011 state title team included Jillian Vogl, Caroline Marahsall, Emmajean Speer and Sarah Rose Gabor.
However, Lauren Devine is back in goal, protected by veteran defenders Maggie Carpenter and Maureen Milmoe, while Nicole Chiarello and Rachel Nourse patrol the midfield and the duo of Jessy Silfer and Emily Willard anchor the attack.
Together, that’s a formidable group, as Weedsport found out. Wasting little time, the Lakers bolted out to a 3-0 first-half lead, taking 17 shots overall. Silfer and Willard each put in two goals, while Chiarello contributed an assist.
Meanwhile, on defense Carpenter, Milmoe and the rest of Cazenovia’s side remained sound, limiting Weedsport to six shots, all of which Devine kicked away.