MANLIUS – None of the previous 10 victories the Cicero-North Syracuse girls soccer team had amassed this season compared with the satisfaction gained from Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Fayetteville-Manilus in overtime, for several reasons.
Part of it was just the importance of the game. It was the state Class AA no. 9-ranked Northstars dealing with the state no. 11-ranked Hornets for the first of two late-season showdowns in as many weeks.
Another part was just how short-handed C-NS was. Leading goal-scorer Emilee Rio missed the game, as did fellow midfielder Elyssia Germain (who scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over West Genesee Oct. 2) and top defender Bri Dorrance.
Most importantly, though, was the way the Northstars handled the adversity thrown at them.
Late in a scoreless first half, the Hornets’ Morgan Goodman launched a long free kick that found the net, and while C-NS disputed the way the play unfolded, the goal stood.
From there, the Northstars’ defense, led by Kristyn Dallman, Grace Engle and Carly Trotman, effectively stifled anything F-M tried to establish, in particular keeping top forward Lauren Clark quiet and contained, while goalie Avery Byrnes was aggressive and intelligent whenever she was challenged.
All of this got rewarded when, with 6:32 left in regulation, Ashley Evans, from 40 yards out, lofted a perfectly struck free kick that Hornets goalie Mackenzie Murphy could not grab as it found the top of the net.
Much of the 20 minutes of overtime saw the two sides engage in a tense, physical battle, which only made the conclusion of the second OT that much more stunning.
With 1:38 left, C-NS had the ball in the far left corner, trying to keep it in bounds. Senior forward Tori Iannotti then lofted a shot from near the end line that somehow curved over Murphy’s reach and fit inside the top right corner for an improbable game-winning goal.
