While time, and personnel changes, may alter the equation, for now the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse team is several steps ahead of its neighbors from Liverpool.
In their second of two regular-season encounters Tuesday night at Bragman Stadium, the state Class A no. 14-ranked Northstars used a steady, relentless attack to wear down the Warriors and prevail 16-7 to finish its regular season at 11-5.
C-NS entered that game with a no. 14 state Class A ranking, but it was coming off a defeat, having fallen 9-6 to Section V power Honeoye Falls-Lima on May 14. The state Class C no. 21-ranked Cougars broke out of a 5-5 halftime tie by holding the Northstars to a single goal in the second half, its modest attack overcoming a stout defense that included 12 saves from goalie Lauren Gilbert.
Prior to that, Meghan Duffy had recorded a three-goal hat trick, with Bryar Cummings getting a goal and two assists. Samantha Tortora and Jessica Meneilly had the other goals.
So now it was back home and a rematch with the same Liverpool side it beat 15-6 on April 14 LHS Stadium – and whom it would take out again by the same winning margin.
Not wanting to lose on Senior Night, C-NS rolled to an 8-3 halftime advantage. No one on Liverpool’s roster could contain Meghan Duffy, who in her last regular-season home appearance poured in four goals and added four assists.
Two other seniors starred, too, as Bryar Cummings scored twice, adding three assists, while Samantha Tortora gained two goals and one assist. Senior Mallory Eymer and sophomore Jessica Foley had their own two-goal outings as Jenna Lippert, Olivia Africa and Brenna Duffy had one goal apiece.
Contained most of the way, Liverpool, who fell to 6-10 on the season, still had Maia Henry and Krystyna Sterio each net a pair of goals, while Maggie Tassone had one goal and one assist. Megan Fitzpatrick and Brittany Halpin also found the net.
That 6-10 mark meant that the Warriors would not be part of the six-team field for the Section III Class A playoffs, while C-NS earned the no. 3 seed and would be heavily favored to get past no. 6 seed Rome Free Academy next Tuesday to set up a Thursday semifinal against no. 2 seed West Genesee at East Syracuse Minoa Stadium. The final is May 31 at 4 p.m. at the Carrier Dome.
