ONONDAGA COUNTY – For all they had both done so far this spring, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls lacrosse teams had not yet faced each other.
That changed last Thursday night, when the rivals clashed at LHS Stadium and the Northstars, mostly propelled by a big first half, controlled the contest and defeated the Warriors 12-5.
Not wanting to let Liverpool get any sort of momentum, C-NS was aggressive from the opening draw, with several different players able to get those crucial draws, leading to extra possessions and goals.
By halftime, it was 9-2, and the Northstars effectively thwarted any Warriors comeback attempt, goalies Nicole Mirra and Nicole O’Neil combining to stop 10 of the Warriors’ 15 shots.
Sophia Nesci, with four goals and one assist, and Mackenzie Prentice, with two goals and three assists, led a well-balanced C-NS attack. Brooke Molchanoff, who won five draws, scored three times as Gabby Ciciarelli had two goals and Tori Iannotti added a goal.
On Liverpool’s side, Mia Berthoff and Gianna Carbone both found the net twice, Berthoff adding an assist. Maggie Tifft had the other goal.
Two nights earlier, C-NS battled Fayetteville-Manlius at Bragman Stadium and put together its best all-around effort of the season, bringing some new players to the forefront in a 17-6 romp of the Hornets.
These same two teams had met April 14 and F-M, on its home turf, had pulled it out 11-10, but C-NS had made some adjustments and, in all phases of the game, controlled F-M in the rematch.
Molchanoff, who had four goals, and Prentice, who had three goals and two assists, now paired with Ciciarelli, who matched Molchanoff converting four times.
Helping them all, Nesci had a career-best five assists to go with her pair of goals. Shea Firth had one goal and one assist, with Iannotti, Sam Klein and Rylie Kocik also finding the net.
C-NS lost a close 11-10 decision to Irondequoit (Section V) on Saturday afternoon. Molchanoff, Prentice and Maggie Putman each scored twice, with single goals going to Ciciarelli, Firth, Klein and Rocik.
In a tough stretch this week, Liverpool would have to travel to West Genesee, Baldwinsville and Jamesville-DeWitt, all in a span of five days as C-NS would face the Wildcats at home after taking on Westhill.
