CENTRAL NEW YORK – A trio of area girls soccer teams still found themselves in the state rankings and wanted to firm up that status heading into the regular-season homestretch.
No one had a bigger game than Fayetteville-Manlius, who challenged unbeaten, state Class AA no. 8-ranked Cicero-North Syracuse last Wednesday night in the first of two clashes in a nine-day span, only to lose a 2-1 overtime decision.
The Northstars were short-handed. Leading goal-scorer Emilee Rio missed the game, as did fellow midfielder Elyssia Germain and defender Bri Dorrance.
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, effectively stifled anything F-M tried to establish. 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, but with 1:38 left, C-NS had the ball in the far left corner and Tori Iannotti 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.
It proved quite active on Saturday, when F-M faced Liverpool, but Goodman and Clark led the Hornets to a 4-2 victory over the Warriors.
Three different times, Goodman was able to find the net, her hat trick complemented by an assist on Clark’s goal to negate the work of Liverpool’s Mya Wright, who scored once and assisted on Alexa Marsh’s tally.
East Syracuse Minoa, who has climbed to no. 16 in the state Class A rankings, put up more big numbers in last Tuesday’s game at Cortland, nearly getting to double digits in a 9-0 romp over the Purple Tigers.
Sprinting out to a 6-0 edge by halftime, the Spartans got another big performance from Leah Rehm, who netted four goals to bring her season total to 18.
Natalie Peterson set a career mark with five assists as Ashley Praxl scored twice. Peterson and Jazzel Meikleham had the other goals, with Khloe Welch and Leah Chavoustie getting assists.
Then ESM got its ninth win in a row when it pounded Syracuse United 10-0 on Thursday night, Rehm and Peterson both netting three goals as Peterson added a pair of assists. Single goals went to Welch, Praxl, Sara Stark and Angelina Polcaro, who picked up a pair of assists.
Jamesville-DeWitt shares the no. 20 state ranking in Class A and found itself in a tough battle with Central Square last Tuesday before it took over in the second half and, scoring both of its goals, blanked the Redhawks 2-0.
A 3-0 win over Fulton followed on Thursday, the Rams this time netting all of its goals in the first half as Megan Baker, Rori Leach and Brooke Hulbert converted, with assists going to Sydney Balotin and Harmony Russell.
Christian Brothers Academy took a 3-0 loss to Homer last Wednesday as Gracie Patriarco earned two of the Trojans’ three goals. CBA goalie Emma Piraino recorded eight saves. Then the Brothers fell 2-0 to Baldwinsville on Friday.
Bishop Grimes battled to a 2-2 draw with Fabius-Pompey last Tuesday, the Cobras led again by Jenna Sloan, who netted both goals as Kate Murphy picked up an assist. In goal, Natalie Musolino recorded six saves.
A day later, Grimes climbed back into the win column, topping LaFayette 3-0. Sloan not only netted a first-half goal, she assisted on tallies from Ella Riley and Saba Famasa as Loyi Mugushu assisted on Sloan’s goal.
Making it back-to-back wins on Saturday, Grimes crushed Pulaski 6-0, with Sloan scoring twice more and single goals earned by Murphy, Abby Docos, Laura Nguyen and Loyi Mugushu.
Manilus-Pebble Hill lost, 2-1, to Pulaski last Tuesday, all the goals coming in the second half as Maggie Stokes-Rees converted for the Trojans, assisted by Katherine Mezzalingua. Kate Chaffee finished with five saves. Then MPH lost 5-0 Saturday to unbeaten, state Class D no. 4-ranked Bishop Ludden.
