With a large returning cast and high expectations, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse team would begin the 2012 spring campaign with a pair of impressive home victories, though it could not quite sustain that brief win streak through the end of March.

For the Northstars, who went 8-9 a season ago and lost in the first round of the Class A playoffs to West Genesee, things began last Saturday with a one-sided effort against Union-Endicott as C-NS tamed the Tigers 16-1.

Half of those goals came in the first period, an 8-0 outburst that quickly settled matters. The Northstars reached double digits and an 11-0 edge by halftime, and continued to add to the margin in the latter stages.

Scott Slater, part of a large class of returning seniors, scored five times, adding an assist. Tyler Heldt was close behind, with four goals and one assist, while Matt Kennedy chimed in with two goals and three assists.

Dylan Collins also found the net twice, contributing one assist. Kyler Schilling, Zach DeBottis and Matt O’Donnell had the other goals, with Rob Spenard, Tom Koster and Alex LaLone picking up assists. Combined, goalies Bryan Schenk and Justin Ager stopped 13 of 14 shots they faced.

The Northstars’ second game, against Watertown IHC Tuesday night, also featured a blazing start, which was all that was needed to beat the Cavaliers 11-4.

Sharp in the attack, C-NS roared to a 7-1 first-quarter lead. From there, IHC’s defense settled down, but it could not make any sustained run against the Northstars, who nursed the healthy margin the rest of the night.

Heldt, with three goals and two assists, and Mike Fiorini, with three goals and one assist, led the attack. Spenard and DeBottis each found the net twice, with Waldron getting the other goal. Collins chipped in with a pair of assists.

Now C-NS looked for three in a row Friday night, at Christian Brothers Academy, only to see its attack go cold for a long stretch in the middle, leading to an 11-6 defeat to the Brothers.

Even with a quick start, the Northstars were down 4-3 through one period, and it would not get on the board again until the fourth quarter. During that drought, CBA didn’t add much to the margin, only making it 7-3, but it gave the hosts some cushion once C-NS charged late.

Slater had two goals, with Collins, Fiorini, O’Donnell and Tyler Griffo earning one goal apiece. Schenk finished with nine saves as CBA attacker Joe Dolfo led his side with four goals and one assist.

As this was going on, back at Bragman Stadium the C-NS girls lacrosse team appeared in control during its opener against Marcellus, only to squander that advantage and lose to the Mustangs 10-9.

Sarah Bowles, five days removed from helping the C-NS girls basketball team win the Federation Class AA championship, scored twice as the Northstars steadily built a 7-4 halftime lead. Caitlyn Hamilton found the net three times, while Tiffany Ryan matched Bowles’ two-goal output.

None of this could prevent the Mustangs from coming back, though, with Molly McGuane getting three goals and three others (Grace Nolan, Grace Hunt and Lexi Bird) scoring twice. Marcellus goalie Renee Poullott had 13 saves, two more than C-NS counterpart Stefani Reynolds.

Now the girls Northstars have back-to-back road tests at Carthage and Rome Free Academy. The C-NS boys return to action next Friday, when it hosts South Jefferson.