Amanda Lupo and Alex Brown
SKANEATELES -- The Skaneateles girl's hockey team has been stalwartly protecting the net this year.
The Lakers have allowed only four goals in six games, and a big reason behind that is the two goalies in front of the net.
Alex Brown is in her fourth year starting at goalie for Skaneateles. She's one of the top goalies in the area, but three games into the season she suffered a concussion, which thrust freshman netminder Amanda Lupo into the starting spot for the next three games.
The two have combined for a 98% save percentage, the best in the league.
It's been a nearly unbeatable combo for the 4-1-1 Lakers.
Lupo, who is still in her first year at Skaneateles after going to Port Byron, says she can't stop thinking about the moment she stepped on the ice for her first varsity game.
"As soon as they said my name, I just looked up at my dad and I couldn't stop smiling," Lupo says. "I was glad my parents were there, my little sister was there. It was just the emotuion that, 'yes, I'm here.'"
Brown is the veteran of the bunch, and though she's only a junior, she's already taken the role of mentoring some of the other goalies.
"You kind of have to step up and be a leader," Brown says. "I talk to the goalies, give them some hints. But also talk to the players, and be really talkative in net."
Congratulations to Alex Brown and Amanda Lupo, this week's Bryant & Stratton CNY Central Athletes!
