Once the snow stops, the big advantage for the Marcellus girls lacrosse team is that it can plunge right into action. And that’s what the Mustangs did last week, playing three times at home as it seeks to improve upon a 2007 season where it reached the Section III Class C semifinals before falling to eventual champion Skaneateles. Marcellus gained a huge confidence boost last Thursday night when, against defending Class B champion Carthage, it pulled out a 14-13 overtime victory over the Comets. Neither side pulled away through 50 minutes of regulation. And the overtime periods were just as tight, as it took Chelsey Dean’s goal with just seven seconds left in the second OT to produce a winning margin. Carthage produced far more shots during the course of the game, which meant the work in goal by Natalie Scheibel proved vital. She finished with 16 saves, more than twice the total of Carthage counterpart Ellyse Richardson, who had six saves. Sarah Holden led both sides with four goals. Kate Gosson found the net three times, while Dean and Nora Barry earned two goals apiece. Erin Walter, Bridget Dooley and Meghan Connors notched single goals. Katie DeRonda, Alexis Egeberg (three goals each) and Gabrielle Kamide (two goals, two assists) led the Carthage attack. In its opener last Monday night against Binghamton (Section IV), the Mustangs, who lost just five seniors to graduation from that ’07 squad, needed every bit of its firepower to beat the Patriots 17-12. That margin was built in the first half, as Marcellus stormed in front 8-4. Though the defense had lots of trouble in the second half, the Mustangs matched Binghamton’s production and maintained the solid margin. Holden served as the anchor, backing up her three goals with four assists. Dean and Connors benefited as they each found the net four times, while Dooley picked up two goals and two assists. Gosson also found the net twice, as Denise Johns got one goal and two assists. Barry earned one goal and one assist as Erin Walter contributed an assist. Scheibel played in the net and earned nine saves. A day later, the Mustangs were even more dominant against General Brown, taking out the north country visitors from Dexter in a 20-2 romp. Connors tamed the Lions more than anyone else, setting a new personal mark with eight goals as Marcellus built a 12-2 halftime edge and blanked General Brown the rest of the way. Dean put in four goals, while Holden and Barry each scored twice, Holding adding two assists and Barry one assist. Gosson and Johns each had one goal and two assists, with Dooley and Kara Conley also finding the goal-scoring column. In all, Marcellus plays its first six games at home, which included Monday’s visit from Auburn and a big Wednesday-night showdown with Skaneateles.