Since the Cicero-North Syracuse and Fayetteville-Manlius girls lacrosse teams were placed next to each other in the state Class A rankings – the Northstars at no. 14, the Hornets at no. 13 – it only figures that their head-to-head match-ups have proven close and competitive.
Yet C-NS has won them both, following up its 11-9 victory at Bragman Stadium on April 22 by going to F-M’s home turf last Tuesday night and, with a superb second-half defensive effort, prevailing again by a two-goal margin, this one 9-7.
They went back and forth throughout the first half, which ended in a 6-6 tie. But then C-NS’s back line, led by Lexxi Knoblock, Mary Kate Bonanni and Jenna Lippert, did a tremendous job closing off all of F-M’s attack points, with Julia Gilbert running her total to seven saves.
Thus, once the Northstars regained the lead, it stayed there, having seen Jessica Meneilly produce a season-best four goals to complement Meghan Duffy’s three goals and two assists. Samantha Tortora had the other two goals as Mallory Eymer contributed an assist.
On that same night, Liverpool took aim at state no. 2-ranked West Genesee, and got closer than most opponents have done all season, taking plenty of encouragement out of the game, even if it resulted in a 12-7 defeat to the Wildcats.
Despite its 6-7 record and the fact that it lost, 13-1, to this same WG squad on April 21 in Camillus, The Warriors got off to a perfect start, stunning the Wildcats by earning the game’s first three goals.
But Liverpool was kept off the board the rest of the half as WG regrouped and went in front, 5-3, by intermission, Refusing to stay content, the Wildcats then added to that margin and led, 11-4, before the Warriors made a belated charge.
Kyrstyna Sterio, with three goals, and Brittany Halpin, with two goals and one assist, led Liverpool’s attack, with Maggie Tassone adding a goal and three assists. Veronica Brancato got the other goal and Marissa Madonna was sensational in the net, recording 13 saves. On WG’s side, Madisyn Kittell (four goals, one assist) and Mackenzie Baker (two goals, four assists) led the way, with Nicky Delany scoring three times.
Against Westhill in a non-league game on Friday night, Liverpool badly wanted to win this Warrior clash – but never got close.
Westhll prevailed, 16-8, gaining a 9-5 edge by halftime and pulling away behind Shelby Stack’s five goals and one assist, plus three-goal hat tricks from Erin McMullen and Natalie Jetter as goalie Morgan Hayes made nine saves.
Unable to keep up, Liverpool still saw Halpin score three times and contributing an assist. Julia Sardella and Maia Henry had two goals apiece, with Sterio and Kate Salanger earning the other goals.
