The Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse team completed a busy stretch of four games in six days with a come-from-behind effort to beat Binghamton 11-10 last Monday at Bragman Stadium.
Easy wins over Central Square (16-2) and Union-Endicott (14-1) had followed the Liverpool game, but C-NS knew that Binghamton, one of the better sides in Section IV, would pose a greater challenge.
Sure enough, the Patriots exchanged goals with the Northstars throughout the first half, even though C-NS would sneak in front 6-5 before the break. Unfazed, Binghamton dominated the third quarter, streaking to a 9-7 lead.
Yet it was the Northstars making the final push. Despite its busy early slate, C-NS still had plenty of energy left, and it came back, tying it 9-9, and then moving in front for good when Zach Debottis put in the go-ahead goal, his third of the afternoon, with 2:08 left in regulation.
That was enough, as Debottis also had an assist to go with his hat trick. Tyler Heldt had two goals and two assists, while Tom Koster and Matt O’Donnell also scored twice. Tyler Griffo managed a goal and assist as Eric Sauer also found the net. Goalie Bryan Schenk not only stopped 18 of the 28 shots he faced, he also got credit for an assist on one of C-NS’s goals.
C-NS played another Section IV foe, Chenango Forks, on Saturday afternoon, and were in a close battle until a big third quarter and a superb individual performance by Heldt helped the Northstars push past the Blue Devils 14-9.
All through the first two periods, Forks matched whatever C-NS was doing, and it produced a 5-5 deadlock going to the break.
However, Heldt proved too difficult for the Blue Devils to contain as he sparked the Northstars to a 5-1 domination of the third period, accounting for most of the winning margin.
All told, Heldt had seven goals and four assists for a career-best total of 11 points. Debottis and Sauer offered the support, with two goals apiece, while O’Donnell managed a goal and two assists and Griffo also scored.
Having improved to 4-1, the Northstars rested until Tuesday’s game against Syracuse East, followed by Thursday’s visit from Fayetteville-Manlius, a crucial early-season test.
