CORTLAND - It's an act they've played out plenty of times. Same stage, same director and most of the same characters.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Surrounded by Honeoye Falls-Lima Cougars, Skaneateles midfielder Jenna Lotkowictz breaks up the field in the NYSPHSAA Class C semifinals on Friday afternoon at SUNY Cortland. Lotkowictz finished with three goals and three assists.
Surrounded by Honeoye Falls-Lima Cougars, Skaneateles midfielder Jenna Lotkowictz breaks up the field in the NYSPHSAA Class C semifinals on Friday afternoon at SUNY Cortland. Lotkowictz finished with three goals and three assists.
But most of the cast has had a year to replay a miscue here and there that cost them the big picture, and no one wants to make the same mistakes again.
The Skaneateles girls lacrosse team disposed of yet another opponent in the state tournament on Friday, setting up the most dramatic of scenes in today's NYSPHSAA championship game. With a 16-8 semifinal win over Section V's Honeoye Falls-Lima at SUNY Cortland, the Lakers get a second take with Section XI's Shoreham-Wading River at noon - the team that stole their spotlight last season.
“I'm very pleased,” Lakers coach Bridget Marquardt said. “But I also have to say, we haven't won anything in two years. It's great to be back here, but it's on my back and I would like to win another one. And I want it to be this year.”
The Lakers punched their ticket to the finals for the fourth straight season after dominating a Cougars team that never once led. The postgame celebration was minimal though, as the Lakers immediately began preparing for their final act. The Wildcats, who upended Section I Nanuet 14-8 in the semis on Friday, ruined Skaneateles' chance at a three-peat last season with an 11-9 win on the same SUNY Cortland field.
“I know there might be some girls that are intimidated and stuff like that, but I love it,” Marquardt said. “I'm a competitive person and I love that we're getting another crack at it. I look forward to seeing them again. They're a great team, I've seen them play, and it should be a good game. Hopefully, we'll come out on top.”
They'll have the chance, as long as they can overcome playing back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Lakers scored early and often against the Cougars, but in the blazing heat with minimal cloud relief. Despite any potential exhaustion, the Lakers have a ton of momentum on their side - outscoring state opponents 50-15 in three games.
“We don't usually play back-to-back games unless there's a weather problem, so it's tough,” Marquardt said. “Especially since we had a big game today and it's hot and we have to come back out and play a tough team (Saturday). There's an advantage for both teams though. I think right now, we're in a good rhythm, we're peaking and everyone's healthy.”
Skaneateles jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, stretching it to 9-4 at the half.
“We came out strong,” said Lakers senior Jenna Lotkowictz. “We knew we had to come out and set the tone for the game and we did that when we came out and scored a couple of quick goals.”
And just like the previous games, there was not just one or two players that the Lakers' opponent could shut down. Skaneateles saw six different players score in the entire game.
“We have seven offensive players that share time out there and all seven can score,” Marquardt said. “They score in practice, they step up in different games and the goal was for them all to step up and contribute today. If they only concentrate on two girls, we'll be in trouble.”
Lotkowictz led the Lakers with six points on three goals and assists. Five of her total points came in the first half, and the exclamation point came on an unassisted goal with 23:13 left in the game to put Skaneateles up by five.
“We have 10 seniors and we didn't want this game to be our last,” Lotkowictz said. “We went out there and played with heart and gave it everything we had.”
Shannon Tierney wasn't half bad either, putting up four goals and an assist in the game after scoring just once in the first half. Two of her shots came in the final 3:13 when the Cougars inched the score to 13-8 after netting three straight goals. Junior Lindsay Angelillo also earned a hat trick, on top of tossing an assist. Kelsey Nangle and Maddy Morrissey each sank two shots and passed for another. Laura Trenti also earned two goals, while Emma Hueber and Saulsbury each contributed an assist.
Defensively, the Lakers were just as solid, holding Cougars' standout Amanda Moyer to just one goal. Anna Legrett led Honeoye Falls-Lima with two goals and two more assists. Amanda Willison also scored twice, and Kellah Alford, Kelly Palmer and Lindsay Powell (three assists) each added a goal. Lakers' goalie Heather Mullen tallied five saves, while Emily Stankaitis managed just five in the cage as Skaneateles peppered her with 30 shots.
“The defense played great,” Marquardt said. “I've told them all year long that defense wins championships and Heather came up with some big saves today. Honeoye Falls-Lima is a very good team, they never gave up.”
Skaneateles can expect just as much aggressive play from the defending state champs this afternoon. The Wildcats have compiled a 19-1 record, losing their sole game in overtime in early May. They have outscored their opponents by an eye-popping 331-139 this season, including matching 14-8 wins in the state tournament after earning a bye.
Now that the stage is set and the players are in place, all the Lakers need is their best prop.
“We're just going to go out there and play with heart, and everything else we have until the end,” Lotkowictz said. “Last year, things didn't go our way. This year, we know what it takes.”
Lakers 16
Cougars 8
The Skaneateles girls lacrosse team disposed of yet another opponent in the state tournament on Friday, setting up the most dramatic of scenes in today's NYSPHSAA championship game. With a 16-8 semifinal win over Section V's Honeoye Falls-Lima at SUNY Cortland, the Lakers get a second take with Section XI's Shoreham-Wading River at noon - the team that stole their spotlight last season.
“I'm very pleased,” Lakers coach Bridget Marquardt said. “But I also have to say, we haven't won anything in two years. It's great to be back here, but it's on my back and I would like to win another one. And I want it to be this year.”
The Lakers punched their ticket to the finals for the fourth straight season after dominating a Cougars team that never once led. The postgame celebration was minimal though, as the Lakers immediately began preparing for their final act. The Wildcats, who upended Section I Nanuet 14-8 in the semis on Friday, ruined Skaneateles' chance at a three-peat last season with an 11-9 win on the same SUNY Cortland field.
“I know there might be some girls that are intimidated and stuff like that, but I love it,” Marquardt said. “I'm a competitive person and I love that we're getting another crack at it. I look forward to seeing them again. They're a great team, I've seen them play, and it should be a good game. Hopefully, we'll come out on top.”
They'll have the chance, as long as they can overcome playing back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Lakers scored early and often against the Cougars, but in the blazing heat with minimal cloud relief. Despite any potential exhaustion, the Lakers have a ton of momentum on their side - outscoring state opponents 50-15 in three games.
“We don't usually play back-to-back games unless there's a weather problem, so it's tough,” Marquardt said. “Especially since we had a big game today and it's hot and we have to come back out and play a tough team (Saturday). There's an advantage for both teams though. I think right now, we're in a good rhythm, we're peaking and everyone's healthy.”
Skaneateles jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, stretching it to 9-4 at the half.
“We came out strong,” said Lakers senior Jenna Lotkowictz. “We knew we had to come out and set the tone for the game and we did that when we came out and scored a couple of quick goals.”
And just like the previous games, there was not just one or two players that the Lakers' opponent could shut down. Skaneateles saw six different players score in the entire game.
“We have seven offensive players that share time out there and all seven can score,” Marquardt said. “They score in practice, they step up in different games and the goal was for them all to step up and contribute today. If they only concentrate on two girls, we'll be in trouble.”
Lotkowictz led the Lakers with six points on three goals and assists. Five of her total points came in the first half, and the exclamation point came on an unassisted goal with 23:13 left in the game to put Skaneateles up by five.
“We have 10 seniors and we didn't want this game to be our last,” Lotkowictz said. “We went out there and played with heart and gave it everything we had.”
Shannon Tierney wasn't half bad either, putting up four goals and an assist in the game after scoring just once in the first half. Two of her shots came in the final 3:13 when the Cougars inched the score to 13-8 after netting three straight goals. Junior Lindsay Angelillo also earned a hat trick, on top of tossing an assist. Kelsey Nangle and Maddy Morrissey each sank two shots and passed for another. Laura Trenti also earned two goals, while Emma Hueber and Saulsbury each contributed an assist.
Defensively, the Lakers were just as solid, holding Cougars' standout Amanda Moyer to just one goal. Anna Legrett led Honeoye Falls-Lima with two goals and two more assists. Amanda Willison also scored twice, and Kellah Alford, Kelly Palmer and Lindsay Powell (three assists) each added a goal. Lakers' goalie Heather Mullen tallied five saves, while Emily Stankaitis managed just five in the cage as Skaneateles peppered her with 30 shots.
“The defense played great,” Marquardt said. “I've told them all year long that defense wins championships and Heather came up with some big saves today. Honeoye Falls-Lima is a very good team, they never gave up.”
Skaneateles can expect just as much aggressive play from the defending state champs this afternoon. The Wildcats have compiled a 19-1 record, losing their sole game in overtime in early May. They have outscored their opponents by an eye-popping 331-139 this season, including matching 14-8 wins in the state tournament after earning a bye.
Now that the stage is set and the players are in place, all the Lakers need is their best prop.
“We're just going to go out there and play with heart, and everything else we have until the end,” Lotkowictz said. “Last year, things didn't go our way. This year, we know what it takes.”
Lakers 16
Cougars 8
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