As it turned out, in its quest to repeat as Section III Class A champions, the Cicero-North Syracuse field hockey team would have to go through opponents against whom it prevailed three times in the regular season by the same 1-0 margin.
Yet the no. 3 seed Northstars could not make it out of Monday’s semifinal at Baldwinsville’s Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium as no. 2 seed Rome Free Academy outlasted them in an epic match not decided until the Black Knights prevailed in a shootout.
These same two teams had met just nine days earlier at RFA Stadium. C-NS claimed that 1-0 decision, but it turned out to be a 60-minute dress rehearsal for the far more important playoff rematch.
Things had already taken place that afternoon as no. 4 seed Baldwinsville, playing on its home field, knocked off top seed Fayetteville-Manlius in yet another 1-0 match where Emma Brushingham scored in the first half and the Bees’ defense withstood a Hornets second-half barrage that included 11 unsuccessful penalty corners.
Nothing of that sort happened between C-NS and RFA. Instead, it lurched back and forth as warm day turned into cool evening, neither side wanting their season to end.
The Northstars had most of the good early chances, earning six penalty corners before converting with 12:59 left in the first half when an RFA turnover turned into a shot from the right point that Faith Weaver converted.
A big moment came when Katie Thies, poised to make it 2-0 with six minutes left in the half, was stopped point-blank by Black Knights goalie Lilianna Ferrucci, which wasn’t the last time Ferrucci would make a key stop.
RFA did get many of its own chances late in the half, and carry that momentum into the second half, continuing to push until, with 15:45 left, Drew Kopek put it past Ally Wagner to tie the game.
And it would stay tied for quite a while, through regulation and then a pair of tense seven-on-seven overtime periods. C-NS had a player advantage to cards for 10 minutes, but could not capitalize, and in the second OT each of the goalies again made game-saving stops.
So it all rode on a shoot-out, with each side getting five opportunities to, within 10 seconds, make a 20-yard run at the net and try to beat the other team’s goalie.
Three rounds passed, and neither Wagner nor Ferrucci were beaten. Finally, C-NS converted on its fourth shot, only to have RFA answer it to keep things even.
The fifth round had Ferrucci force another Northstars attempt wide. Black Knights freshman Alyssa Nardslico slid the ball past the charging Wagner, and RFA had won.
