After more than a year away from competition, the Tompkins Cortland Community College lacrosse team made a successful return to play Saturday. Hosting Sussex County Community College (N.J.) for the 2021 season opener, the Panthers jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back, winning 19-9. While it was the first game of the year for Tompkins Cortland, Sussex entered the game with a record of 1-0.
After a year of adjusting to new protocols and procedures, and a preseason of limited practices and no scrimmages, it would be understandable if the Panthers looked rusty early. But that didn't happen. Just two minutes into the game, Ryan Pritchard (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson H.S.) ripped twine for the first score of the season. By the end of the first quarter, the Panthers had scored four more times, racing to a 5-1 lead. The second quarter was more evenly played, with the home team outscoring the visitors 4-3 to give Tompkins Cortland a 9-4 lead at the half.
Things kept rolling in the second half, with the lead growing to 14-7 after three quarters. Three goals in the first four minutes of the final quarter pushed the margin to ten points, and the Panthers and Skylanders traded a pair of goals over the closing minutes to make the final 19-9.
By the time the final horn sounded, seven different Panthers had scored goals, led by four each from Pritchard, Alan Porter-Jackson (Buchanan/Hendrick Hudson H.S.), and Ethan Hicks (Dryden/Dryden H.S.). Avery Watson (Watkins Glen/Watkins Glen H.S.), Julian Mangino (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.), and Colum Swan (Tully/Tully H.S.) each had two goals and De'Aundrey Bethea (Bay Shore/Bay Shore H.S.) had a single score. Porter-Jackson had a team-high three assists and Swan and Pritchard each had two helpers. Hicks, Watson, Mangino, and Chase Kiner (Homer/Homer H.S.) each had one assist.
A huge factor in the Panther' ability to control the game was dominance in face offs. Led by Skylar Running Rabbit (Siksika Nation/Strathmore H.S.), Tompkins Cortland won 24 of 28 face offs with the freshman winning an astounding 22 of 25 (88 percent).
Declan Fullerton (Westchester/Walter Panas H.S.) started in goal and earned the win, recording four saves during his 30 minutes of work. Ben Pallone (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) and Kirkland Case (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) split the second half between the pipes.
Looking ahead
The Panthers open Region 3 play Wednesday at Finger Lakes Community College.