Lakers Tame Panthers

CANANDAIGUA -- Rachel Hefner scored the eventual game winning goal in the 70th minute to lead the Lakers over Tompkins Cortland Community College on Saturday by the score of 5-3. With the win, the Lakers improve their regional record to 8-0, 13-3 overall.

The opening ten minutes was a back and forth match that saw scoring chances at both ends. Finger Lakes keeper Daniele Ogrodowski was called upon early making three saves in the opening ten minutes. The Lakers broke through in the 16th minute. Jessa Blondell played a through ball towards Brittany Maggio. The goalie for Tompkins Cortland came out to play the ball but Maggio beat her to it and put the ball in the back of the net for the 1-0 Finger Lakes lead. That lead would hold until the 36th minute when a blocked shot would find the foot of Megan Reynolds at the top of the box. She would find the right side of the net to level the game at 1-1. The lead would be short lived though as Maggio would get her second of the day. She would get the ball near midfield, and dribble past the Panther defenders before cutting her shot to the left of the net to give Finger Lakes the lead again going into halftime.

The second half began a lot like the first with Tompkins Cortland controlling the possession. The Lakers were able to strike early on the counter attack however. Jessa Blondell would get the ball on the right side of the box. Tompkins Cortland's goalie was caught out of the goal and Blondell finished it for the 3-1 lead. The Panthers would draw the game closer with a goal in the 57th minute. The Lakers would go on to score the next two goals. Brittani Bove would take a free kick just outside of the Panther's box. The ball would squeak under the arm of the goalie and Rachel Hefner finished it to the back of the net for the Lakers. Set pieces would prove beneficial for the Lakers again, this time on a corner kick. Valois Feneziani started the corner kick. The ball would sail past the goal to Rachel Hefner. She would chip it over to McKenzie Miller. Miller would find the back of the net to make the score 5-2 in favor of Finger Lakes. Tompkins Cortland would add a late goal, but the Lakers would continue on to victory, 5-3.

Finger Lakes will close the regular season out on Wednesday. They take on the Cougars of Genesee Community College at 4pm.