As far as the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse field hockey teams were concerned, it was a long way to travel in order to find heartbreak.
The Warriors, in particular, had to feel crushed in the wake of last Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Baldwinsville in the Section III Class A semifinals at Morrisville State College.
This came just after the Northstars, the no. 4 seed, took a 2-0 defeat to top seed and defending champion Rome Free Academy, as the Black Knights and Bees advanced to Saturday’s final at Bragman Stadium.
Liverpool had played twice against B’ville in the regular season, losing both times by scores of 2-0 (on Sept. 20) and 1-0 (on Oct. 14). The close nature of these games made the Warriors believe it could get on the board – and perhaps win – this time around.
Neither thing would happen, though. Even on a familiar artificial surface (B’ville plays home games on grass), the Warriors could do little against a tough, consistent Bees defense.
At the same time, Liverpool’s own back line stood up well, the quartet of Alyssa Mills, Amanda Muldoon, Emily Burns and Michelle Hopkins breaking up attacks and Tess Tracy picking up five saves.
But when they went to the seven-on-seven overtime session, space opened up – and the Bees won it when Lindsay Varga, off a pass from Paige Corso, slipped a shot past Tracy.
CNS wished for an overtime chance similar to the one it used to get past Fayetteville-Manlius in the first round. And it had tied RFA 1-1 and lost to them 2-1 in their previous meetings this season, so there was reason to feel encouraged.
The Black Knights snuffed out that encouragement, though, holding CNS to just two shots and getting one goal in each half to prevail. Delaney Hughes and Kaysie Gregory had the goals, with Stacie Skidmore and Meghan McCormick earning assists.
In defeat, Meghan Wiacek had six saves as the Northstars finished at 8-7-2, with Liverpool closing out its campaign at 9-4-2.
