While climbing to a spot in the Section III Class A finals was nice, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team is after something more – a championship.
From that 2012 team that reached the title game before falling to eventual state champion West Genesee, head coach Elizabeth Acee lost a strong group of seniors, including Ally Meile, Mary Fadden, Courtney Szczesniak, Kayla Szczesniak, Andrea Flood, Marissa Gabriel and Kylie Long.
The returning cast, though, includes several stalwarts like Mallorie O’Brien, Alexis Kline and Emily Burns, and they would pass their first test of the new season.
Going to the north country last Saturday to face traditional Class B power Carthage, the Warriors gained the early edge and maintained it, eventually beating the Comets 10-6.
Liverpool won most of the draws, which led to increased possession time in the first half and a 6-3 lead. Only the work of Carthage goalie Rebecca Abbott, who made 15 saves, kept it close.
Though the Warriors cooled off a bit in the second half, it maintained its lead, the attack led by O’Brien, who had three goals and one assist, and sophomore Kasi Cabrey, who was on the roster as a ninth-grader a year ago and contributed a goal and three assists.
It was, for the most part, a deep and balanced attack. Seven different players scored as Jessica Attaway found the net twice, with Kline, Julia Sardella, Lauren Mancini and Meghan DiMarco each joining Cabrey with single goals. Mancini also picked up an assist.
Three Carthage players – Mackenzie Kidder, Doria Dorroch and Carly Sullivan – had two goals apiece. Jenna Zajac, who takes over in goal for Gabriel, had seven saves.
Liverpool engages with West Genesee in a sectional finals rematch Thursday in Camillus, two days after the Warriors host Oswego.
