For the first time this spring, the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse teams gathered last Thursday night at Bragman Stadium, each of them feeling a sense of early urgency in the wake of some defeats to CNY Counties League foes.
And while the game was far from artful, the Warriors didn’t mind one bit as it topped the Northstars 8-4 in what turned out to be an exercise in patience and persistence.
Not producing much in the first half, Liverpool more than made up for it by using its zone defense to close the door on most of C-NS s scoring opportunities. Connor Prosser stopped all but one of the shots he faced, yet his side only led 4-1 going into the break.
Knowing that one Northstars outburst could change the equation, the Warriors maintained its tough resistance and led, 7-2, through three periods. That proved enough, as Dylan Wallace and Steven Audley each notched three-goal hat tricks, with Dillon Rogers adding a goal and three assists. Cabry Hildmann picked up a goal and Antonio Rey added an assist.
Conner Collins solved the Liverpool zone for a pair of C-NS goals, with Drew Flack and Nick Riccardi also finding the net. Brian Rowe added an assist as Hunter Dorgan picked up nine saves, two less than Prosser.
Two nights earlier, C-NS had gone to Fayetteville-Manlius and struggled throughout a 12-4 loss to the Hornets, while Liverpool, hosting undefeated (2-0) Baldwinsville, could not put together the sustained run it needed to topple the Bees and took a 16-12 defeat.
C-NS had a chance to add to F-M’s early-season struggles, but the 1-3 Hornets, in desperation mode, clamped down and contained the Northstars, holding them without a goal in the first and third quarters while establishing most of its eventual winning margin.
Only in the latter stages of each half did C-NS get something on the board. Riccardi, Dante Whitmire, Ray Scarlata and Brandon O’Brien each picked up a goal, and Dorgan made 10 saves, but the Hornets overcame that with Donovan Welsh notching four goals and Tyler Papa adding three goals.
Meanwhile, Liverpool never let B’ville get away – but never could catch up, either.
All game long, the Warriors found success against the Bees’ defense. Trailing 4-2 after one period, it traded goals with B’ville and nearly pulled even, but found itself with a slim 7-6 halftime deficit.
But then B’ville’s defense settled down and, in he third quarter, held the Warriors to a single goal. This allowed the Bees to reclaim its earlier margin and withstand one more late push from the hosts.
Rogers, with four goals, and Audley, with three goals and one assist, had strong efforts. Rey had a goal and two assists, with Jon Jerman getting a goal and assist and Hildmann also finding the net. Jake Piseno added an assist.
Prosser had 15 saves, but he couldn’t keep everything out. B’ville’s Peter Fiorini managed a career-best seven assists, helping a variety of teammates flourish. Charlie Bertrand, Matt Dickman and Dillon Darcangelo each recorded three-goal hat tricks, while Ryan Gebhardt scored twice. Connor Smith had a goal and two assists.
Following the win over C-NS, Liverpool returned to the field Saturday to honor its late assistant coach, Dan Spillett, in its annual game against Essex Junction (Vermont) that included the game along with a JV contest against Rochester McQuaid (which the Warriors won 20-8) and a post-game tailgate party for all the teams.
As to the game, Liverpool won, 17-4, racing to an 11-2 halftime margin as Rey, who was given the Head, Heart, Hustle Award, earned four goals and two assists. Rogers had three goals and three assists, with Wallace also scoring three times. Audley and Hildmann had two goals apiece as Jerman, Ethan Calderwell and Connor Tift also scored, Calderwell adding anassist.
