Think the Cazenovia boys lacrosse team was ready to start the Section III Class C playoffs?
Ask Tully, for in the first 12 minutes of Tuesday’s Class C quarterfinal at the Sean Goggin Sports Complex the top-seeded Lakers attacked – and scored – at will on the no. 8 seed Black Knights, and did not let up in the other parts of the game, either, until it had recorded a 20-6 victory. This advances Cazenovia (16-1), who also sits atop the state Class C rankings, into Thursday’s sectional semifinal at Christian Brothers Academy’s Alibrandi Stadium against no. 5 seed Homer, who knocked out LaFayette 15-6. The winner here gets Skaneateles or Cortland in Saturday’s sectional final at Cicero-North Syracuse. The Lakers, after its first-ever sectional title, did not need much further motivation, but got it from the memory of losing in this exact same round as a no. 2 seed and heavy favorite against Westhill one year ago. Driven not to repeat that nightmare, Cazenovia instead inflicted its own nightmare on Tully, who beat General Brown 12-9 in the first round. During that decisive opening period, the Lakers nearly averaged a goal per minute, constantly winning face-offs and constantly turning those chances into shots that found the net. By the time they hit the second quarter, the Lakers possessed a 10-1 lead, and the rest of the game was spent building upon that margin, along with making sure that, through defenders like Clayton Goris, Doyle Judge, Sam Lewis and Noah Shephard, the Black Knights could not organize any serious response. Mason Powell had his best game of the season so far, earning six goals to go with one assist. Sean Cannizzaro also had seven points, but amassed them through one goal and six assists. Connor Cannizzaro joined in with five goals, plus an assist, while Joe Nardella picked up two goals and three assists. John Greacen and Lucas Dorsey both finished with two goals and one assist, while Alan Baldwin and Brad Nardella both had single goals.