Given a chance to continue this winter, the Liverpool ice hockey team made sure the ride lasted at least two more games.
Due to the fact that Ithaca (who finished fourth in the Division I regular-season standings) was a Section IV squad, the Warriors and Oswego moved into a play-in game to see who would meet West Genesee in Friday night’s semifinals.
Gathering Tuesday night at the Buccaneers’ home ice called “The Fort”, Liverpool did not get conquered. Instead, it went out and played great defense most of the night and eliminated Oswego by a score of 3-1.
The two sides traded goals in the first period, with Greg Unger converting on the Bucs’ behalf. However, led by Anthony Lamacchia, Liverpool scored in each of the next two periods, too, to go in front for good.
Lamacchia had two goals, while Brad Copone got the other. Allan Griffin and Dylan Hobble both would earn single assists.
Meanwhile, the Warriors’ defense, at times shaky this winter, picked a good time to step up, not letting the Bucs score in the last two periods. Playing an inspired game between the pipes, goaltender Jacob Gyder had 22 saves.
This led to Shove Park, and to a West Genesee squad that had struggled down the stretch to hold off Baldwinsville by one point for the Division I regular-season title.
None of that struggle was evident on Friday night, though, as Liverpool ran right into a first-rate effort from the Wildcats and took a 7-0 defeat.
WG didn’t get away immediately, only scoring twice in the first period. But it used relentless offensive pressure and air-tight defense to shut down most of what Liverpool tried to do, as the visitors managed just 11 shots all night.
In the net, Gyder made 25 saves before getting pulled in the late going. WG saw Erich Haney lead the attack, earning two goals and two assists.
As the Wildcats advance to meet Baldwinsville in Sunday’s Division I final at the Onondaga County War Memorial, the Warriors finished with a mark of 6-17.
