Whether it wanted to or not, Cicero-North Syracuse’s boys lacrosse team found itself a spectator on a historic occasion.
When the Northstars lost, 14-7, to Baldwinsville last Thursday at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, it gave long-time Bees head coach Peter Fiorini his 400th career victory.
C-NS, who started the week holding the no. 15 spot in the state Class A rankings, played on event terms in the first quarter. Neither side could take control, playing to a 2-2 deadlock.
But it started to turn early in the second period, when B’ville’s Steve Petrelli and Cody Luke hit on goals just 32 seconds apart, the first of three big outbursts that established the winning margin.
Later in that period, Connor Chapman’s goal ignited a 90-second stretch where Petrelli would twice flash open and use hard, precise shots to earn his third and fourth goals. All of this helped B’ville take a 7-3 lead to halftime.
Knowing that C-NS had done its best work all season in the second half, the Bees quickly answered after the Northstars cut the lead to 7-4 on Andrew Burns’ goal early in the third quarter.
In a span of barely more than two minutes, Sean Barron, Connor Chapman and Mitch Rein all found the net, and the margin doubled to 10-4. Though C-NS tried to make runs, it never got closer than four goals again.
C-NS got back into the win column on Saturday, fighting past Colonie (Section II) 15-12. Again tied 2-2 after one period, the Northstars this time took control by outscoring Colonie 5-1 in the second quarter.
From there, it turned into a shootout, C-NS able to answer everything Colonie threw at them. Zach Debottis and Tom Koster led the way, each getting four goals as Debottis added a pair of assists.
Andrew Burns and Nick Mirizio each scored twice. Tyler Griffo had a goal and two assists, while Erik Sauer and Ben Cummings also scored. Brad Williams contributed an assists.
Before all this, Liverpool’s boys lacrosse team, having finally found the win column April 19 against Essex (Vt.), made it two in a row last Tuesday night, at Rome Free Academy, where it held on to beat the Black Knights 11-10.
From an early 2-2 deadlock, the Warriors moved out in front 6-4 by halftime. And the margin grew to 10-7 before a fourth quarter where RFA, led by Pat Giardino and Seth McCormack (three goals each), nearly caught up.
Still, the Warriors held on as Dillon Rogers, with two goals and three assists, led the attack. Dom Castiglia scored three times, with Matt Sala, Antonio Rey, Justin Renk and Steve Audley notching one goal apiece. Each of Kyle Halladay’s seven saves proved important.
That win streak came to an abrupt halt Thursday night in an 18-4 defeat to the same West Genesee squad that beat Liverpool 15-0 earlier in the month.
Here, WG had 15 goals by halftime, quickly deciding matters as David Procopio (four goals), Tyler Brown and Derek Farrell (three goals each) led the assault. Kyle Halladay made 14 saves, but couldn’t keep everything out. Kendall Keahey scored twice for Liverpool, with Renk and Castiglia earning the other goals.
And when the Warriors faced reigning state Class C champion Cazenovia on Saturday afternoon, it took a 19-7, its defense again burned as it fell behind 11-5 by halftime and saw the Lakers tear through a 6-1 fourth quarter to close it out.
Anthony Calabrese finished with three goals, with Keahey adding two goals and one assist. Rogers and Sala both had one goal and one assist as Rey also got an assist. Cazenovia saw Cole Willard get five goals and two assists, followed closely by P.J. Brown (four goals, two assists), Henry Mann and Jake Lewis (three goals each).
