Thanks to its 5-2 start, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team had made its way into the state Class A rankings at the no. 19 spot, but staying there would not prove easy.
The Warriors hosted powerful West Genesee last Thursday night, and it made two big surges during the game, yet still could not topple the Wildcats, taking an 11-8 defeat.
WG had nearly knocked off state no. 1-ranked Baldwinsville two nights earlier, and didn’t get phased when the Warriors scored first, answering with a 3-0 run early in the first half.
Now, though, the Warriors settled in and dominated the rest of the first half, tying it 3-3, then enduring a 10-minute drought before converting twice more right before halftime to go in front 5-3.
Emily Stratton brought the Wildcats back even with a pair of goals early in the second half, sparking WG to a 6-0 spurt, with Halen Saroney, Matisyn Schaut, Sam Detor and Courtney Reynolds all finding the net.
Liverpool didn’t quit, pulling back within one, 9-8, with more than a minute to play, but the Wildcats were able to win two late draws, and Saroney and Schaut put in clinching goals.
Colleen Tifft was the spark for Liverpool as she found the net four times to lead all individuals. Jenna Irwin scored twice, with single goals going to Bella Brancato and Kendra Hall. Samantha Bates was sensational in the net, recording 14 saves.
Two nights earlier, Cicero-North Syracuse, hosting state Class B no. 4-ranked Fayetteville-Manlius last Tuesday at Bragman Stadium, also got off to a terrific start, but could not sustain it, even if its offense was potent in a 21-13 to the Hornets.
The Northstars did sprint to the early lead, and were up 4-3 before F-M began to assert itself midway through the first half, setting a torrid pace that eventually produced a 12-7 margin going to the break.
C-NS remained productive, with the duo of Molly Malchanoff and Gabriela Ciciarelli each putting in four goals as Fran Tortora managed three goals and three assists, Paige Dorgan adding two goals and two assists.
But F-M just had too much, Kiera Shanley setting the Hornets’ pace thanks to six goals as Annie Steigerwald, Katie Shanley and Sophia Melfi each got three-goal hat tricks, Steigerwald adding three assists. C-NS goalie Alyssa Wilson made six saves.
On Saturday, C-NS faced state Class D no. 6-ranked Marcellus and played a terrific first half, gaining a 7-5 advantage as Tortora was on her way to three goals, with Ciciarelli and Molly Molchanoff each scoring twice.
Yet it was the Mustangs dominating the second half and prevailing 15-10, helped by 12 saves from goalie Kenai Cameron.
Anna Vetsch had three goals and five assists for Marcellus, her passes often going to Sarah Hutchings (four goals), Katy Wangnsess and Lily Locastro (three goals each) as Dorgan, Brooke Molchanoff and Victoria Iannotti had single goals for C-NS.
When Liverpool challenged Baldwinsville on Saturday, it could not keep up with the Bees in a 19-10 defeat. Brancato and Salanger each had two goals and two assists, with Hall and Macy Moore also scoring twice.
Tifft and Irwin had the other goals. Bates had 10 saves, but couldn’t keep everything out as Hannah Johnson (five goals) and Katie Pascale (four goals, three assists) led B’ville.
Now Liverpool and C-NS would face each other Tuesday night at Bragman Stadium, right before the Northstars face West Genesee and Central Square as the Warriors have a rematch with B’ville on Thursday night.
