With their post-season status secure, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool ice hockey teams could devote their full attention toward another head-to-head clash last Friday night at the Twin Rinks.
On the surface, it seemed to difficult for the two sides to top their first encounter Dec. 8 at Lysander Arena, where the Northstars rallied from a 4-2 third-period to prevail 5-4 in overtime.
Somehow, though, they did, putting even more goals on the scoreboard and again making it past 45 minutes of regulation – but here, Liverpool would net the game-winner, and take it by a 7-6 margin.
Early on, Liverpool had some measure of control, taking leads of 3-1 and 4-2, but it could not hold on to either of them, C-NS coming back and gaining a 4-4 tie by the time they reached the second intermission.
A tense third period saw both sides score twice, setting up a five-minute OT period, but here the Warriors would net the game-winner, overcoming a 44-30 shot disparity as Steve Kozikoski finished with 38 saves.
Donny Husted led Liverpool’s attack, earning a three-goal hat trick. Nate Bittel and Kyle Terzini each had one goal and two assists, with Bobby Welch and Richie Hart both getting a pair of assists. Tom Bianchi and Tyler Garofalo had the other goals as Parker Boyer added an assist.
On the C-NS side, where goaltender Cole Parzych had 23 saves, Mike Sciore and Chris Schneid each got three assists to anchor the attack. Zach Sheridan scored twice, with Matt Siegel getting a goal and two assists. Sciore, Sutter Donegan and Connor Doren had the other goals.
Unlike Liverpool, C-NS had played earlier in the week, taking on Watertown IHC last Tuesday in what turned out to be a one-sided romp at the Watertown Fairgrounds, the Northstars getting career-best performances from Sutter Donegan and Mike Sciore in a 13-0 shutout over the Cavaliers.
C-NS scored four times in each period, steadily burying IHC while, at the same time, remaining tough on the defensive side, Parzych stopping all 28 shots he faced while taking a turn in goal.
Most of the scoring plays involved Donegan and Sciore passing to each other. As a result, they each finished with four goals and five assists, and got others into the fun, too.
Siegel and Doren each had a goal and two assists, while Sheridan, Nate Merulla and Noah Koening also scored. Logan Field managed two assists as Sheridan, Schneid, Josh Ludden and Parker Lane each got single assists.
In this week’s action, C-NS would go to Auburn before meeting Baldwinsville Friday in a rematch of the 3-2 overtime victory the Northstars attained at the Carrier Dome on Nov. 21. Liverpool would go east to face Mohawk Valley Wednesday and then return to Lysander Friday to take on Rome Free Academy.
