Everything was working for the Tompkins Cortland Community College lacrosse team on Sunday as the Panthers cruised to a 23-3 win at Finger Lakes Community College. The win moves the Panthers to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in Region 3. Finger Lakes is now 0-2 overall and region.
The goals came early and often for the Panthers. Alan Porter-Jackson (Buchanan/Hendrick Hudson H.S.) started things off with a tally in the second minute of play. Avery Watson (Watkins Glen/Watkins Glen H.S.) and Ethan Hicks (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) each scored in the span of 51 seconds before Porter-Jackson made it 4-0 less than six minutes into the action. Finger Lakes broke the run temporarily with a score with 8:08 left, but Skylar Running Rabbit (Siksika Nation/Strathmore H.S.) answered emphatically, winning the ensuing faceoff and carrying the ball down the field and scoring in just nine seconds. Joey Shufelt (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) had the next two goals before Ryan Pritchard (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson H.S.) closed the quarter with a last-minute goal to make the lead 8-1 at the first break.
The second quarter brought eight more goals, followed by six more in the third to make the score 22-1. The fourth quarter started with the 19th straight Panthers goal, making the score 23-1. While Tompkins Cortland took their foot off the gas, Finger Lakes found the net for a pair of goals in the final ten minutes, making the final 23-3.
The 20-goal win represents the largest margin of victory in program history, and the 23 goals scored matches the second most in a game for the Panthers. Porter-Jackson and Pritchard each had 7 goals and 2 assists to pace the attack. Hicks finished with 3 goals and 2 assists. Shufelt had a pair of goals, while Running-Rabbit, Watson, Josh Prince (Tully/Tully H.S.), and Julian Mangino (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.) each had one. Zach Mallory (Homer/Homer H.S.) was credited with an assist.
Ben Pallone (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) played the first half in goal, earning the win while recording two saves. Kirkland Case (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) covered the goal in the third quarter and Declan Fullerton (Westchester/Walter Panas H.S.) finished the game for the winners.
Looking ahead
The Panthers are scheduled to travel to Batavia to take on #3-ranked Genesee Community College.