Maybe the shutout streak was gone, but the Cicero-North Syracuse field hockey team was in prime position to put together an undefeated 2020 season.
The Northstars earned five consecutive shutouts before a first-half goal allowed to East Syracuse Minoa Oct. 17, though that game still ended 4-1 in C-NS’s favor.
Fayetteville-Manlius was next, and a second goal was surrendered – but that didn’t derail the Northstars, who still pushed to a 2-1 victory over the Hornets.
When Gabby Wameling netted a first-period goal, C-NS again went out in front, only to have F-M tie it in the last seconds of the period off a penalty corner converted by Nora Wilson.
Unfazed by this, the Northstars secured its own penalty corner in the second quarter and Anna Melfi, off a feed from Jamie Snyder, ripped in the go-ahead goal.
Though shut out in the second half, C-NS did a solid job possessing the ball, which limited what the Hornets could do.
Then the rivalry between C-NS and Liverpool renewed itself Thursday night at Bragman Stadium, the Warriors looking to improve upon the 4-0 defeat it took to the Northstars in their Oct. 2 opener.
At least in this match, Liverpool did get on the board, but only after C-NS established a comfortable margin on the way to an eighth consecutive victory by a 5-1 margin.
Above anything else, the Warriors could not stop Snyder, who twice fired in goals during the first quarter before Chrissy Wagner converted to make it 3-0 in the second period.
Just before halftime, Liverpool broke through, Rebekah Davie scoring off a feed from Mia Berthoff, but in the second half Snyder put in a third goal for the hat trick and Wagner converted again.
Liverpool was coming off its first win of the season Oct. 15 against ESM when it hosted Baldwinsville last Monday night, another tight affair where the Warriors fell 1-0 to the Bees.
Here was a game where Liverpool had a fair share of opportunities, taking seven shots overall, but none of them got past Bees goalie Cara Vredenburg.
For her part, McKenna Ecker also had seven saves, but B’ville got the only goal it needed when Gloria Metallo converted off a feed from Emma Dugan.
C-NS is on the road this week for back-to-back games against Camden and Canastota while Liverpool, following a trip to F-M, hosts Weedsport and Cortland.
