CORTLAND - After 71 days, 333 goals and 20 wins, all it took was four minutes to decide the fate and define the season of the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team.
Fortunately, the Lakers saved their best lacrosse of the season for their final moments on the field. Skaneateles won its second straight state title in dramatic showing Saturday, edging Section V champ Penn Yan, 6-5, at SUNY Cortland.
The Lakers trailed the Mustangs for 21 of the game's 25 minutes but dominated the other four before Libby Johnson's game-winning score with 12.2 seconds remaining.
“Despite the score we were never reeling the whole game,” Skaneateles coach Bridget Marquardt said. “It was important that we played hard the entire 50 minutes. Penn Yan's a very good team. They play a very physical brand of lacrosse. We knew it was going to be a fight to the end.”
After trailing the entire game, the Lakers squared things up with back-to-back goals from Johnson and Stephanie Rice with four minutes left. The Mustangs won the ensuing faceoff but were stifled by goalie Whitney Johnson, who made a clutch save on a low shot that skipped off the turf.
“Whitney and the other seniors wanted this game so badly,” Libby Johnson said. “Whitney's been great all year. I think everyone has confidence in her, especially toward the end of games. She's used to the pressure.”
The Lakers regained possession after the stop and slowed the pace and looked to be content with passing the ball for the final three minutes - holding out for one last shot.
Instead, the Lakers turned it into four scoring chances.
“We didn't want to just sit and stall; I told them if you get a good shot then take it,” Marquardt said. “It's just important that we're in good position to pick up the miss. If not then we need to get back (on defense) fast. Ideally we would have been taking the last shot.”
Sophomore Kelsey Nangle launched a shot with just more than a minute remaining, but the ball ricocheted off a Penn Yan defender. Jenna Lotkowictz emerged from the scrum with the ground ball. After another shot and a ground ball recovery, Nangle cranked another shot from the left side of the goal but connected with the crossbar. Midfielder Margaret Shanley scooped up the ground ball but a hard check jarred the ball free. The ball rolled to about 15 feet in front of the net and that's where Libby Johnson came in.
“I thought there was about 15 seconds on the clock,” Johnson said of her game-winning goal. “The ball rolled right in front of me so I picked it up and fired. I didn't really have time to think about it.”
Marquardt pumped her fist on the sideline and Johnson was mobbed by teammates on the field as the Lakers took their first lead of the game.
“I'm so happy for Libby,” Rice said. “It couldn't have been any sweeter if I had scored that goal.”
While Penn Yan forced Skaneateles into some bad decisions throughout the game, the Lakers found their control when they needed it. A flawless four minutes, in the clutch, is why the Lakers have another banner to add to the rafters.
The Lakers trailed the Mustangs for 21 of the game's 25 minutes but dominated the other four before Libby Johnson's game-winning score with 12.2 seconds remaining.
“Despite the score we were never reeling the whole game,” Skaneateles coach Bridget Marquardt said. “It was important that we played hard the entire 50 minutes. Penn Yan's a very good team. They play a very physical brand of lacrosse. We knew it was going to be a fight to the end.”
After trailing the entire game, the Lakers squared things up with back-to-back goals from Johnson and Stephanie Rice with four minutes left. The Mustangs won the ensuing faceoff but were stifled by goalie Whitney Johnson, who made a clutch save on a low shot that skipped off the turf.
“Whitney and the other seniors wanted this game so badly,” Libby Johnson said. “Whitney's been great all year. I think everyone has confidence in her, especially toward the end of games. She's used to the pressure.”
The Lakers regained possession after the stop and slowed the pace and looked to be content with passing the ball for the final three minutes - holding out for one last shot.
Instead, the Lakers turned it into four scoring chances.
“We didn't want to just sit and stall; I told them if you get a good shot then take it,” Marquardt said. “It's just important that we're in good position to pick up the miss. If not then we need to get back (on defense) fast. Ideally we would have been taking the last shot.”
Sophomore Kelsey Nangle launched a shot with just more than a minute remaining, but the ball ricocheted off a Penn Yan defender. Jenna Lotkowictz emerged from the scrum with the ground ball. After another shot and a ground ball recovery, Nangle cranked another shot from the left side of the goal but connected with the crossbar. Midfielder Margaret Shanley scooped up the ground ball but a hard check jarred the ball free. The ball rolled to about 15 feet in front of the net and that's where Libby Johnson came in.
“I thought there was about 15 seconds on the clock,” Johnson said of her game-winning goal. “The ball rolled right in front of me so I picked it up and fired. I didn't really have time to think about it.”
Marquardt pumped her fist on the sideline and Johnson was mobbed by teammates on the field as the Lakers took their first lead of the game.
“I'm so happy for Libby,” Rice said. “It couldn't have been any sweeter if I had scored that goal.”
While Penn Yan forced Skaneateles into some bad decisions throughout the game, the Lakers found their control when they needed it. A flawless four minutes, in the clutch, is why the Lakers have another banner to add to the rafters.
