As their respective 2019 regular seasons concluded, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls soccer teams were both a long way from their stated goals of moving to the top of the area large-school ranks – even if one of them would get to the post-season.
When they had gone head-to-head, the Northstars had got the best of it, first in a 3-0 decision on Sept. 19, and again by that same score when they met again Oct. 10 at LHS Stadium.
The second edition has C-NS bolt out to a 2-0 halftime advantage. That was enough, but the Northstars added a late goal as Victoria Iannotti, Madelyn Jackson and Ashley Evans each scored, with Jenna Imbesi adding an assist.
To counter them, Liverpool goalkeeper Mikayla Perry had seven saves, but its attack rarely made C-NS work, managing just three shots all night that Ava Field grabbed.
From there, C-NS played Oneonta to a 2-2 draw two days later at Bragman Stadium, to where the Northstars had moved due to light issues at Archie Hall Stadium.
Both teams scored in the first half. Oneonta grabbed a 2-1 edge in the first OT period, but C-NS got back even in the second OT as Iannotti scored again and Julianna Marullo added a goal, with Jackson getting an assist and Field recording five saves.
C-NS had to travel to Baldwinsville on Friday, making up an Oct. 1 weather postponement. Having lost 4-1 to the Bees on Sept. 12, the Northstars could not make up ground in the rematch, taking a 3-0 defeat.
Hannah Mimas struck early in the first half to put B’ville in front, and Hannah Johnson headed in Simone Neivel’s corner kick in the 35th minute. Then it was Neivel finding the net early in the second half, assisted by Sophia Cavallaro, who had also assisted on the first goal.
Liverpool lost last Monday to New Hartford 3-1, with the lone goal coming from Carissa Ruediger off a feed from Caroline Stevens. Perry had four saves as Alexis Falvo led the Spartans, scoring twice.
Then, against Fayetteville-Manlius on Wednesday, the Warriors took a 4-0 defeat, keeping the Hornets relatively contained in the first half but then seeing a 1-0 deficit grow late as Ryann Dauksza, Lauren Clark, Anna Hartzheim and Hannah Knych had the Hornets’ goals.
Liverpool’s season ended – but C-NS reached the Section III Class AA playoffs as the no. 4 seed, and hosts no. 5 seed Auburn Saturday at noon, the winner to face no. 2 seed Baldwinsville in the Oct. 30 semifinal at Central Square.
