CENTRAL NEW YORK – All that the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team had built, in terms of momentum and confidence, through a six-game win streak would get tested in Friday’s Section III Division I quarterfinal.
It was there that the Northstars challenged no. 4 seed and reigning state champion Syracuse at Meachem Rink, and it nearly got an early lead – but when it didn’t, things turned in the Cougars’ favor, leading to a 6-1 defeat.
Even with a pair of regular-season losses to Syracuse, C-NS had a belief that it could turn things around, one that held up through most of the opening period as it remained 0-0.
Then, at the 13:25 mark, Tanner Long deflected a pass that eluded Cougars goalie Connor Rose and found the net – but the joy only lasted a moment as the goal was waived off for a high stick.
Within a few minutes, it had got away, Syracuse scoring twice late in the period on goals by Colin Johnson and Tommy Rioux and again on Jameson Bucktooth’s goal in the opening seconds of the second period.
By the end of the second, C-NS trailed 5-0, and though Emmit Porter would score early in the final period to avoid the shutout, it proved too late.
Just getting to the Cougars didn’t prove that easy for C-NS, who had to battle past no. 13 seed Mohawk Valley 4-2 in Tuesday’s opening round at the Twin Rinks.
Despite its 0-19-1 record, the Raiders didn’t melt away when the Northstars jumped out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the first period, led by Emmit Porter, who would get a three-goal hat trick.
Helped by goalie Noah Narolis (who had 33 saves), Mohawk Valley shut out C-NS in the second and forced the Northstars to play all 51 minutes to put the game away.
Aside from Emmit Porter, only Andrew Davis put in a goal, with Braden Porter, Hayden Scott, Tyler Milewski, Tanner Long and Devin Kellogg earning one assist apiece. Jordan Miller stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced.
At least C-NS made it out of the first round – something Liverpool, the no. 9 seed, could not do as it fell 5-2 to no. 8 seed Rome Free Academy at Kennedy Arena.
Having dropped a 2-1 decision to the Black Knights in late January, the Warriors may have felt some confidence going into the playoff rematch, but RFA dashed it with a big first period.
Scoring twice, the Black Knights were up 2-0 when Cole Broughton scored to put Liverpool on the board. But RFA answered it and then Carmen Orton netted his second goal just 2.6 seconds before the period ended.
Now down 4-1, the Warriors’ defense would settle down and cut into the deficit with Evan Haskins’ second-period tally, assisted by Broughton and Cole Bradley, but it would get no closer.
James Welch finished with 34 saves, only to seed Orton return to net his third goal with eight minutes left to clinch it. Liverpool finished its season with a 3-14-2 record.
