No one knows, at this point, where the path of the Cicero-North Syracuse girls soccer team will end up in 2012.
But if it leads to something big, the Northstars will certainly look back on Thursday night’s 4-2, come-from-behind victory over Fayetteville-Manlius, and specifically the second half of that game, as a critical turning point.
Though C-NS had a 7-2 record, it was a week removed from a 1-0 defeat to defending Class AA champion Liverpool. What’s more, F-M had beaten the Northstars 3-2 back on Sept. 13, getting a goal from Sarah Olick-Sutphen in the last minute of regulation.
In the rematch at Archie Hall Stadium, the Northstars fell behind 1-0 amid a quiet first half. But adjustments made during the break paid off in a big way as C-NS four times pushed shots past the Hornets’ strong senior goalie, Nina Quigley.
What’s more, four different players – Stephanie Liberati, Reid Garner, Aly Falinski and Marissa Rio – earned those four goals, with Hanna Haven joining Liberati and Garner in the assist column.
On the defensive end, C-NS got better as the night went along. Mary Kate Ordway, Lexi Williamson and Chloe Lonergan led a unit that did solid containment and protected goalie Alyssa Jim, who finished with five saves.
That same night, far removed from the excitement on Taft Road, Liverpool’s mid-season turnaround continued to manifest itself against Central Square as the Warriors flattened the Red Hawks 9-0 at LHS Stadium.
This was a breakout performance for a Liverpool attack that, even in two wins the week before, could only manage 1-0 decisions over C-NS and West Genesee. Here, the Warriors were up 5-0 by halftime and did not let up one bit.
Breanna Sharpe, with two goals and one assist, led the way as eight different players scored. Ore Akinpelu, Kyla Bills, Alyssa Bittel, Chelsea Bowers, Leanne Barnard, Morgan Wright and Marissa Lombard each found the net.
Emma Geyer finished with two assists, while Alexis Kline, Kaitlin Aiello and Elizabeth Brosnan joined Bowers and Barnard in the assist column.
