SKANEATELES - The Skaneateles girls lacrosse team is a scoring machine.

Actually, three scoring machines. And then some.

“Most of the time we have more than three threats,” coach Bridget Marquardt said. “Our philosophy is if there's seven threats out there against seven defenders, it's very difficult to stop. Someone's going to score a lot of goals.”

More like three someones.

Stephanie Rice, Libby Johnson and Jenna Lotkowictz have accounted for 119 goals this season in 13 contests - 55 percent of the team's total output - and they are the only Lakers who tallied at least once in the first 12 games of the season.

But that's not what matters.

“It's not all about who gets the most goals or who has the most assists,” said Lotkowictz, a junior midfielder who has 32 goals and 14 assists.

What matters is the 12-game win streak for the two-time defending state champions. Not that it's been easy.

“Everyone comes out and plays their best game when they play us because they all want to kill us,” said Rice, who leads the team with 54 goals and has 16 assists. “It's pressure, yeah, but it helps us in the long run because we play better competition.

The Lakers have no problem raising their game, though, and they've done it by sharing the wealth. Sure, the trio has the bulk of the points, but they bring more to the field than their own offense. They have a knack for making their teammates even better.

“We really stress moving the ball around so everyone is really being a threat,” Marquardt said. “Our depth is what really hurts teams. When those three are able to step it up, it helps the other ones as well. It's a huge advantage for us.”

Despite the similar numbers, each one brings a unique talent to the field.

Rice, the senior captain, has been playing varsity since she was an eighth-grader - something she admitted was “overwhelming” - but she has since evolved into a finisher.

“(Stephanie's) probably the smallest one out there, but she works the hardest, and she comes out with the most bruises at the end of a game,” Marquardt said. “She never quits. I call her the Energizer Bunny.”

Johnson, the other senior captain, who has amassed 33 goals and 30 assists, has been playing varsity since she was a freshman.

“She's big, strong, and has a hard, hard shot,” Marquardt said. “Her (role) is feeding Stephanie. She's great at seeing the field, and she finishes well, but also she's one of the top draw people.”

Lotkowictz, who is only in her second year on varsity, has blossomed.

“She's one of the fastest on the team,” Marquardt said. “She causes the most turnovers - she's great at checking and back-checking. This year, she's really starting to finish more. She'll have to take over for Stephanie and Libby next year.”

There are plenty of similarities, though. Marquardt praised all three for their aggressiveness, unselfishness, work ethic and attitude. The whole package makes the rest of the girls take notice and look up to their veterans. Especially the two captains.

Johnson and Rice aren't just the leaders in the scorebook. They lead by example. They selected a color - green - so the entire team has matching shoe laces, ribbons, and butt ends for their sticks. They give motivational speeches on bus trips. They dish out candy before games and give it a meaning to inspire the squad - Warheads are on the menu for their game against CBA.

“We go out the night before and get it, and we think of a goofy thing to say,” said Johnson, who is bound for Cornell next year to play lacrosse. “They always make fun of us for what we say, but it's fun.”

Winning is pretty fun, too.