It proved quite a contrast as to what happened after girls soccer teams from Jamesville-DeWitt and Bishop Grimes climbed to no. 2 in their respective state rankings in late September.
Up in Class A, J-D remained undefeated and difficult to catch, as it hosted Cortland last Tuesday and, unlike their first encounter, it was never close as the Red Rams routed the Purple Tigers 5-1.
Back when they first met Aug. 30 at Cortland, J-D had to pull out a 1-0 decision, but here the Rams decided it early, scoring four times in the first half to negate Tori Cruz’s goal on Cortland’s side.
Ultimately, Grace Thomas and Tonia Kousmanidis finished with two goals apiece, each of them aided by eighth-grader Megan Baker, who had three assists and scored J-D’s other goal. Grace Martin and Hayley Quackenbush also had assists.
Meanwhile, in Class C, Bishop Grimes stumbled a bit, first with a 4-2 defeat to LaFayette on Sept. 20, and then last Monday when it was kept off the board by its neighbors from Manlius-Pebble Hill.
Ultimately, the Trojans beat the Cobras 1-0 in overtime, keeping it scoreless through 80 minutes of regulation and further as Hannah Warren stopped all nine shots she faced.
Grimes goalie Caroline Wilkinson had eight saves, but in overtime MPH’s Audrey McLain slipped in the go-ahead goal, and the Trojans’ defense held on from there.
This climbed MPH to the.500 mark at 5-5 after it beat Bishop Ludden 3-1 in overtime on Sept. 21, the Trojans using goals by Maya Huyge, Katherine Mezzalingua and Maya Huyge to prevail.
Meanwhile, Grimes had to face Tully on Tuesday, and despite still holding the no. 4 state ranking, the Cobras were overwhelmed by the Black Knights in a 4-0 defeat.
Under constant attack, Grimes could not keep everything out as Emma Byrne scored twice for Tully, with single goals going to Maddy Erno and Rachel Briggs, overcoming Wilkinson’s 14 saves.
Then it was Saturday’s rematch with LaFayette, and once again the Lancers got the best of it, beating Grimes 4-0 as goals were scored by Tori Albro, Leanna Crouse, Olivia Prince and Mya DeJoseph, with Albro and Crouse adding assists. Wilkinson, in defeat, had 12 saves.
East Syracuse Minoa lost a tough 3-2 decision to Central Square last Tuesday night, the difference being a first-half goal by the Redhawks.
Down 1-0 at the break, the Spartans saw Natalie Peterson net one goal and assist on the other, by Franchesca Polcaro, but it didn’t prove enough as Central Square’s Cora Keohane score once and assist on tallies by Allyson Isereau and Emma Herrmann.
It was close again on Thursday, but ESM held off Auburn 2-1 as first-half goals from Sophia Orlando and Gianna Coccagnia held up, Abby Hudgins earning an assist. Abby Marinello had the Maroons’ lone goal in the second half.
On Saturday, ESM rebounded with a 3-0 romp over Fulton. Taking 20 shots, the Spartans didn’t score until the second half, when Jessica Griffith found the net twice and Polcaro also converted, with Coccagnia and Madison Hartung earning single assists.
Christian Brothers Academy went to Liverpool last Monday night and, even in a down season, the Warriors proved tough, defeating the Brothers 2-1.
Liverpool had not won once against Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division foes this season, but it shook off an early goal by Tatum Kohlbrenner, assisted by Mari Saya.
The Warriors broke out of a 1-1 tie in the second half as Abby Haley and Abby Brancato scored, with Megan Merrifield getting six saves, the same total as CBA goalie Abby Benware.
CBA lost again on Wednesday, at Skaneateles, taking a 3-1 defeat as Saya scored in the second half, but the Lakers countered with goals by Tess Peterson, Fallon Lynn and Sarah Bailey, who also had an assist. Again, Benware had six saves.
