ONONDAGA COUNTY – To cap the first week of May, the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse teams would confront one another on the turf at Bragman Stadium, and it proved quite memorable.
Even though it was the Warriors who had enjoyed the better start to the 2022 season, it was the Northstars finishing on top this night, rallying late in the fourth quarter and then prevailing, 12-11, in overtime.
A close contest between the rivals was expected, and C-NS got the early advantage in a high-scoring first half, doing enough to battle its way to an 8-6 lead at the break.
Then Liverpool’s defense clamped down for much of the second half, surrendering only one goal in the third quarter as it pulled even, 9-9, then converted twice early in the final period.
Now trailing 11-9, the Northstars pulled out of its slump just in time, Mason Ciciarelli hitting on back-to-back goals to tie it, his third and fourth tallies of the night as Elijah Martin assisted on the equalizer.
With all the momentum going into OT, C-NS gained possession and Mason Blakeman, who already had five goals and one assist, passed it to Ciciarelli, who beat Owen Salanger for the game-winner.
Aside from Cicarelli and Blakeman, Martin got two goals and two assists, with Ian Leahey adding a goal and assist and John Carter also getting an assist. Each of Peter Carter’s 14 saves proved important.
On Liverpool’s side, Aaron Clouthier, Joe Sacco and Owen Michaud each had three-goal hat tricks, with Clouthier gaining a pair of assists. Jalen Graham and Jackson Furr had the other goals as Dom Osbeck got an assist and Salanger was quite busy in the net, earning 23 saves.
C-NS had gone to Fayetteville-Manlius last Tuesday, looking to sweep a Hornets side it defeated on April 16, and it did so while putting together its most comprehensive performance of the season on the way to a 14-5 victory.
It was 13-10 in that first meeting, with the difference in the rematch a stellar defensive effort on the Northstars’ behalf, the back line making several stops and Peter Carter recording 15 saves.
Blakeman, with five goals and two assists, paced the attack, with Ciciarelli adding three goals and one assist.
Leahey and Michael Koehler each scored twice as John Carter and Cy Liberman had single goals. Elijah Martin got two assists, with Caleb Martin, Nick Ludwig and Nick Bisesi adding single assists.
After their battle with one another, C-NS and Liverpool would both have games against West Genesee in this, the last full week of the regular season as the Northstars also meet East Syracuse Minoa Saturday and the Warriors will again challenge Baldwinsville on Thursday after its game with the Wildcats.
