In its last action before the playoffs, the Chittenango girls lacrosse split two games.
First, the Bears hosted New Hartford last Thursday and showed nice balance in an 11-6 victory over the Spartans. Thanks to Jesse Rys, who finished with five goals, New Hartford stayed close for a long time in this game, only trailing 6-5 at the break. Gradually, though, the Bears’ depth would help it pull away from the Spartans. Jessica Antelmi put up three goals and one assist. Tess Piraino and Jenna Barber each had two goals and one assist, with Christine Stoddard also finding the net twice. Maggie Kendrick and Brittany McDonald each had one goal and one assist. Emily Murray got 10 saves, most of them in the second half. Two days later, the Bears hosted Cortland and,in a game that went right down to the final seconds, lost to the Purple Tigers 8-7. Trailing 7-3 at the break, Chittenango cranked up its defensive pressure, holding Cortland to just one goal the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Bears ate into its deficit, even though Barber (one assist) was tied up much of the way and Kendrick also got shut out. McDonald landed a three-goal hat trick, while Antelmi and Stoddard each earned two goals. Still, Cortland held on, helped in no small part by goalie Caitlin Cottone’s 15 saves. Murray finished with 13 saves.