Playing three times in a four-day span, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls soccer team continued to build the case that, despite its youth, it had a real chance to gain the Section III Class AA title.
This busy stretch began with the Northstars hosting Oswego last Tuesday night at Archie Hall Stadium and smoothly working its way to a 3-0 shutout of the Buccaneers.
C-NS grabbed a 2-0 edge in the first half, and never let Oswego into the argument. Marissa Rio, Stephanie Liberati and Eeza Keskinen each scored, with Hanna Haven, Kate Wagner and Aly Falinski picking up one assist apiece.
Two nights later, the Northstars visited Camillus and took on West Genesee, riding a quick start to a 2-1 victory over the Wildcats.
This time it was Haven and Liberati delivering first-half goals, which put C-NS into a 2-0 lead. Only the work of WG goalkeeper Angela Ponto, who made 12 saves, kept it from a runaway.
The Wildcats would cut the deficit in half thanks to a goal by Cailyn Negus in the second half, but the Northstars’ defense remained sound, limiting WG to four shots.
All of this led to Friday’s game at Central Square, a one-sided romp where the Northstars did whatever it wanted on the offensive end and got to double digits in beating the Red Hawks 10-0.
C-NS seemed to get better as the game went on, easily expanding upon a 4-0 halftime lead and taking 31 shots overall as Liberati, Redi Garner and Hannah Szumloz each scored twice.
Behind them, Haven and Sam Foley both picked up one goal and one assist, while Kate Wagner and Meghan Duffy also found the net. Lexi Williamson, Ariah Rosas and Eeza Keskinen each had one assist.
With that, the Northstars improved to 11-2, with another big match looming Tuesday against Baldwinsville before it closes the regular season with visits to Auburn and Rome Free Academy.
