When it glanced at the first state Class AA rankings of the season, the Liverpool girls soccer team found itself at no. 7, a full 12 spots ahead of the team it wants to unseat atop the Section III ranks, Baldwinsville.
That ranking will not last long, though, as the Bees came to LHS Stadium last Tuesday night and, aided by an ill-timed handball early in the first half, seized control and never let go of it, dealing the Warriors a 3-0 defeat.
It wasn’t that Liverpool’s ranking lacked that much merit. The Warriors, after all, had roared to a 4-0 start with two wins over Section V teams (Rochester Aquinas and Mercy) and two others over Section II foes (Bethlehem and Guilderland), all of them away from home.
B’ville hadn’t played a home game, either, but after four consecutive wins it had taken a blemish last Saturday when yet another Section II opponent, Niskayuna, had played the Bees to a 0-0 draw.
Combine all of these factors, and a mid-September game had a post-season feel. Within the opening minute, B’ville was threatened when Liverpool attacked, but managed to avoid an early deficit.
Gradually, the Bees’ pressure picked up as it tested a new-look Liverpool defense anchored by a sophomore goalkeeper, Megan Merrifield. Then, in the 15th minute, the entire game changed.
Having earned a corner kick, the Bees’ Carolyn Brussel hit it to the middle, where amid a scramble the ball bounced up and hit the hand a Liverpool defender inside the 18-yard box.
This was pivotal on two fronts. Not only did it give B’ville a penalty kick, Liverpool was issued a red card, leaving the Warriors to use just 10 players for the rest of the game. Freshman Simone Neivel took the penalty kick and beat a diving Merrifield, fitting the ball inside the left post. B’ville had the lead, a player advantage, and was far from done.
Six minutes later, B’ville converted off a transition play, Brussel making the pass to Addison Hornsey, who put home her team-best sixth goal of the season. The Bees’ defense withstood some Liverpool chances for the rest of the half and led, 2-0, at the break.
A mere 30 seconds into the second half, B’ville had possession on the right side of the field. Mackenzie Schaffner, from 25 yards out and a tough angle, ripped a hard shot that curled into the top right corner of the net.
B’ville didn’t score again, but its defense smothered anything the Warriors tried to establish. Liverpool absorbed the defeat, knowing that it will get a rematch with B’ville Sept. 29 at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.
Two nights later, Liverpool hosted its other neighborly rival, Cicero-North Syracuse, who had started 3-0-1. But the Northstars had not faced an opponent of this caliber, and that, combined with the Warriors’ unhappiness with what transpired against B’ville, led to a 5-0 romp by the hosts.
Steady, relentless pressure by Liverpool took a toll, and a 2-0 halftime lead more than doubled by the time the night was done, despite the efforts by C-NS goalie Olivia Haven, who finished with eight saves.
Lynsey Roth, with two goals, and Bri Kovarik, with a goal and two assists, led the charge as Carli Kovarik had one goal and one assist. Morgan Mitchell had the other goal as Brisa Salinas and Dlyva Duraisamy had one assist apiece.
Then, after beating the Northstars, Liverpool blanked Whitesboro 7-0 on Saturday afternoon, and Bri Kovarik was the centerpiece, scoring four times and adding an assist as Roth and Carli Kovarik both had one goal and one assist. Emily Dorr added a goal as Duraisamy, Abby Kovarik and Abeba Haley earned assists.
Prior to its loss to Liverpool, C-NS handled Rome Free Academy 5-2. In the first half, the Northstars netted four unanswered goals while also keeping the Black Knights from doing much damage of its own.
Ciera Murphy, scoring twice, and Ashlyn Slate, earning a pair of assists, led the C-NS push. Morgan Siechen added one goal and one assist as Jessica Foley and Marissa Bukowski earned the other goals. Jenna Imbesi also had an assist. Olivia Haven played in goal and recorded eight saves.
C-NS got another opportunity against a tough opponent when it met 7-1 West Genesee on Tuesday. Liverpool, meanwhile, took its 6-1 record to Fayetteville-Manlius before heading to New Hartford on Thursday afternoon, just as the Northstars were getting its shot at F-M.
