ONONDAGA COUNTY – Heading toward the end of September, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool boys soccer teams remain within close range of each other in the SCAC Metro division standings.
The Northstars met up with Nottingham last Tuesday and took a 1-0 loss to the Bulldogs. All three of C-NS’s defeats had come in 1-0 decisions.
It was an instance where the Northstars had plenty of chances, yet got none of its 13 shots past Nottingham goalkeeper Kipling Korba-Davis. Meanwhile, Wyatt Dupell made eight saves, only to have Frederick Butler’s goal hold up.
C-NS took on Henninger two days later, the Black Knights having just played state-ranked Baldwinsville to a 0-0 draw.
Here, the Northstars’ attack roared to life in the course of a 3-0 victory, and Michael Rockwell was the spark, having a part in each of C-NS’s three goals.
Not only did Rockwell score twice, he assisted on Gourav Adhikari’s goal, with Jacob Potter and Sean Graves assisting on Rockwell’s tallies and the defense holding Henninger to four shots, all stopped by Dupell.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, just 2-3-1 going into last Tuesday’s game against visiting Corcoran, rose up to the .500 mark by earning a 3-0 shutout over the Cougars.
Nick Hope, earning a goal and assist, led a well-balanced Warriors attack where Massimo Roja and Brady Duerheimer also picked up goals. Bobby McQuatters added an assist.
So began a three-game homestand as West Genesee visited LHS Stadium on Thursday night and, once again, the Warriors proved successful, fighting past the Wildcats 2-1.
Roja scored for the second consecutive game, with Antonio Wilson also earning a goal. Hope added an assist as each of Vincent Thompson’s seven saves proved important. Tyler Wavercak earned WG’s lone goal.
Even bigger was Liverpool’s match Saturday against Baldwinsville, which would serve as good a measure as any to where the 4-3-1 Warriors stood midway through the regular season.
For the most part, the Warriors’ defense was sound, Bennett Robb recording eight saves. But Aidan Stan’s first-half goal held up and the Bees prevailed 1-0, moving to 6-0-2 overall and sending Liverpool to 4-4-1.
