Based upon its flawless opening impression, the Liverpool girls soccer team has already landed in the no. 3 spot in the state Class AA rankings. But just as soon at that took place, the Warriors saw their season-opening, eight-game win streak halted Saturday in a 1-0 loss to the West Genesee Wildcats.
Having beaten WG 12 days earlier, Liverpool was familiar with what to expect — maybe too much so. All game long, the Warriors had chances, but could not get anything past Wildcat goalies Melissa Stevens and Colleen Finney, who combined for 17 saves. Finney entered the game after Stevens injured her shoulder.
Meanwhile, Liverpool had its stout defensive wall penetrated when, in the second half, WG’s Colleen Bubnack scored off a feed from Chelsea Kuss. That single goal would hold up the rest of the way.
Prior to this hiccup, the Warriors began to defend their lofty status last Tuesday night, at Central Square, where it beat the Red Hawks 2-0.
Patience worked in this match, as freshman Gabby Racines scored for the fourth consecutive game. Catherine Hartmann also found the net, while Ashley Warren and Emily McElroy earned assists.
As usual, the Warriors’ defense proved quite strong, as Ashleigh Bowers had to make just two saves, as compared to Central Square’s Katelyn Luce, who had 11 saves.
Back home on Thursday afternoon, the Warriors allowed a goal to Utica Proctor, but still was in control during a 4-1 victory over the Raiders.
McElroy stepped up, scoring twice as Liverpool pulled away from a modest 2-1 halftime advantage. Racines again got a goal, her fifth in as many games, while Ashley Rosenbarker also found the net. Warren, Christina Ippolito, Allison Linnebach and Carolyn Barry all picked up assists.
Right after the West Genesee defeat, Liverpool went to Oswego on Monday to start another streak — and again, the Warriors relied on its youngest star to earn a 2-1 victory over the Buccaneers.
Exploiting Oswego’s weak back line, Liverpool took a flurry of shots, only to go without reward most of the time as the Bucs’ sensational goalie, Nikki Carroll, made 22 saves.
However, Racines figured out a way to beat Carroll, as she put in both of the Warriors’ goals, the first time she has scored twice in her brief varsity career. Ippolito and Amanda Pollock each had assists.
Once it gets past Wednesday’s game with Henninger, Liverpool (9-1) will fixate on a big Saturday showdown with Baldwinsville at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium at 12 noon. Young stars will collide here, as Racines and B’ville’s high-scoring sophomore, Quincy Spagnoletti (she had a natural hat trick against West Genesee on Monday night), will face each other.
