Area boys soccer fans have long imagined a clash between Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse with the Section III Class AA championship as the prize, which has not taken place in 15 years.
But it has a chance to take place in 2015, with the state Class AA no. 7-ranked Warriors as the top seed in the AA sectional bracket and the Northstars as a no. 3 seed with a legitimate chance to go all the way, too.
And it was C-NS getting the jump on the sectional slate last Thursday night at the Gillette Road complex, meeting no. 6 seed Henninger in the AA quarterfinals and getting out to a quick start, which proved valuable in a 3-0 victory over the Black Knights.
Henninger had risen fast this fall, going 8-5-3 and putting good scares into most of the traditional powers. And that included C-NS, whom it met Sept. 15 at Gillette in a game that ended 1-0 in the Northstars’ favor, with Nick Bitz assisting on Jason Hange’s game-winner in the second half.
Remembering that contest, and not wanting it to be as suspenseful, C-NS quickly got a lead in the playoff rematch, and Bitz earned that goal. Then the Northstars converted again for a 2-0 halftime advantage and tacked on an insurance goal early in the second half.
Cameron Hauser and Anthony Paulli followed Bitz into the goal-scoring column, with Hange, Austin Mizell and Evan Gaekler earning assists. Between them, goalies Matt Siegel and Kevin Czuba earned five saves to get the shutout.
Liverpool had to wait until Saturday afternoon for its Class AA quarterfinal against no. 8 seed Utica Proctor, since the Raiders had played Thursday in the opening round and blanked no. 9 seed Rome Free Academy 2-0.
These teams had met Oct. 3, in Utica, with Jeff Meyers needing an overtime goal to beat out Proctor 1-0. There was also recent history for the older Warrior players to consider – namely, the 2012 defeat in the semifinals to Proctor, who went on to win the sectional title.
Given all that, it wasn’t surprising that this game also was a tense, close affair, with Liverpool not able to get out in front until the second half, but hanging on from there to beat the Raiders 2-1.
Yakare Za’s first-half goal matched the Warriors’ tally, making it 1-1 at the break. Then Liverpool broke the tie as, just as in the first goal, Meyers and George Betobaum combined on the scoring play. Liverpool then relied on its defense to protect that margin, Proctor only managing three shots all afternoon.
On Thursday at Fulton, the Class AA semifinal doubleheader starts at 6 p.m. with Liverpool facing Baldwinsville, a team it beat twice early this season, but is now on a six-game win streak.
Following that, at 8 p.m., C-NS takes on no. 2 seed Nottingham in the other semifinal. Those sides played to a 2-2 draw on Oct. 5. Someone will have to win here in order to advance to Monday’s final against Liverpool or B’ville, which will also take place on the Fulton turf.
