ONONDAGA COUNTY – By the time the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls lacrosse teams met up for the first of three encounters last Saturday at Bragman Stadium, each of them had learned plenty about what they could do – and what needed to improve.
The Northstars, working under first-year head coach Stephanie Prentice, broke into the win column right away last Thursday night when it unleashed its potent attack on reigning sectional Class B champion Fayetteville-Manlius.
During C-NS’s 18-12 victory over the Hornets, Frankie Tortora, who starred when the team last played in 2019, torched F-M’s defense, scoring five times and adding three assists.
Brooke Malchanoff, with four goals and one assist, wasn’t far behind as Molly Malchanoff had three goals and an assist. Victoria Ianotti, Mackenzie Prentice and Gabby Ciciarelli each found the net twice and Angela Beardsley added a goal.
Right out of the gate, Liverpool had a major challenge when it hosted Baldwinsville, the reigning sectional Class A champions, last Tuesday night at LHS Stadium.
To its credit, the Warriors never let the game get away, even though it ultimately took a 9-6 defeat to the Bees, ultimately paying for a rough first half where it only scored twice.
Trying to rally late, Liverpool did get more productive, seeing Jenna Irwin and Caroline Stevens each net a pair of goals, with single tallies going to Margaret Tifft and Kendra Hall.
Abigail Cole, starting in goal, recorded five saves, but B’ville put enough past her as Emma Gebhardt, in particular, flourished for the Bees, earning a game-high four goals. Sophia Muscolino added two goals and one assist.
Up against West Genesee Thursday night, Liverpool almost upended the Wildcats, only to get caught and overtaken late in a 13-11 loss to the Wildcats.
The Warriors trailed 7-4 late in the first half, but then turned it around, led by Hall, who finished with four goals and two assists as Tifft got a three-goal hat trick and Irwin had two goals and an assist.
With nine minutes left, Liverpool led 11-9, only to have WG fight back, tying it on Halen Saroney’s goal with 2:39 to play and having Saroney turn to net the game-winner with 20 seconds left, Cara Major tacking on an insurance goal in the waning seconds.
All of this was a prelude to the first C-NS-Liverpool duel, and if it was any indication, the two sides were close in terms of effort, but the Northstars’ skill won out on this occasion as it prevailed 10-7 to move to 2-0.
Cicciarelli, Iannotti and Jenna Pickard had two goals apiece for a well-balanced C-NS attack. Tortora and Brooke Malchanoff each had one goal and one assist as Beardsley and Molly Malchanoff also had goals.
Tough again in defeat, the Warriors had Stevens, Irwin and Mia Berthoff each put in a pair of goals, with Hall held to a single assist as Tifft got the other goal.
