Going into the final week of the regular season, there was little doubt that the Cicero-North Syracuse boys soccer team was primed for a championship push – and Liverpool wanted those same good feelings, too, before it got too late.
The Northstars, still not in the state Class AA rankings, did make amends for an early-season defeat to Nottingham, beating the Bulldogs 2-0 in last Monday night’s rematch at Gillette Field.
Much had changed since that Sept. 2 game at Nottingham. For one thing, the Bulldogs, who was once no. 11 in the state AA rankings, was forced to forfeit some of its early-season wins because it unknowingly used an ineligible player.
Also, C-NS is a healthier, more confident team, especially on the defensive side, which it displayed again on this night, holding Nottingham’s speedy group of attackers in check and never letting them find open space to operate. Matt Siegel only had to make four saves.
It was still 0-0, though, going into the second half. But instead of waiting for more overtime heroics, the Northstars broke through with goals from Kyle Tracy and Matt Corapi, with Zach Spenard getting credit for an assist.
Tense as that was, it proved even more nervous for the Northstars on Wednesday night at Sunnycrest Field, when Henninger was on the brink of forcing overtime before yet another dramatic late goal helped C-NS subdue the Black Knights in a 2-1 decision.
Brady Engle had scored in the first half, but Abdi Abdirashid had countered for Henninger and forged a 1-1 tie at the break. During much of the second half, it stayed even, Black Knights goalie MokPoo Lo recording eight saves to counter the work of Siegel, who had eight saves.
But with two minutes left in regulation, C-NS avoided another trip into OT when Corapi, off a perfect feed, delivered a header past Lo for what proved to be the game-winner. Tracy and Nick Miller got credit for assists on the Northstars’ tallies.
Liverpool, just 5-6 heading into the penultimate week of the regular season, still had not wrapped up a playoff spot, but took care of that problem in a hurry, starting with last Monday night’s 5-1 victory over Corcoran at LHS Stadium.
Even though the Cougars got on the board in the first half, the Warriors still pushed itself to a 2-1 lead at the break, and then got away in the latter stages, constantly solving Corcoran goalie Robert Collier with a series of fine scoring plays.
Sam Fuller, with one goal and one assist, led a perfectly balanced Liverpool attack where five different players – Fuller, Andrew Baillet, Conor Vaughn, Aleksander Dzodic and Bryce Everts – gained the five goals.
Two nights later, Liverpool visited West Genesee, and clinched that post-season spot, but even that required a late-game comeback to fight past the Wildcats 3-2.
Paul Masello and Tyler Pirro each scored in the first half, part of a surge that gave the Wildcats a 2-1 edge as Manny Castro and Brandon Fascia got credit for assists.
But WG’s defense could not hold up in the face of constant Warriors pressure. Ryan Mavretish did all he could, earning 13 saves, but Liverpool tied it and moved in front during the second half as the Fuller scored twice and assisted on the other goal, by Jeff Meyers. Vaughn and A.J. Sinclair assisted on Fuller’s goals.
Back above the .500 mark (7-6), Liverpool would face Auburn, Henninger and Fulton in a five-days stretch starting on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, C-NS, sitting at 9-4-1, would host Central Square Tuesday and West Genesee Thursday night before heading into the sectional tournament.
