EAST SYRACUSE – Time had run out in overtime of Thursday night’s girls lacrosse Section III Class A semifinal between Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse at East Syracuse Minoa Stadium, and for a moment a mystery lingered.
Did Gianna Carbone’s shot go in the net? Or had the clock run out first, meaning a second extra period in the second consecutive post-season clash between the long-time rivals that had gone beyond regulation?
First, it was disallowed. But after a discussion, officials said that Carbone’s goal counted, and the Warriors could celebrate a 9-8 victory that was immensely satisfying on several levels.
Not only had Liverpool secured its first spot in a sectional final in a full decade, it had gained the best kind of payback for what happened in 2021, when the Warriors got within inches of beating C-NS in double overtime in the sectional quarterfinals, only to see the Northstars prevail and ultimately earn the sectional championship.
Also, it rewarded a strong all-around effort from a Liverpool side that entered the night 6-10 and had lost twice to C-NS by margins of 12-5 and 11-8 earlier in the month, though the second game indicated that the Warriors were making up some ground.
During a low-scoring first half, the Warriors inched out in front, constantly answering whenever C-NS caught up. Maggie Tifft scored twice, with Carbone and Mia Berthoff also landing goals, Liverpool taking a 4-3 lead to the break.
They continued this tense exchange in the second half. Any time Liverpool needed a defensive stop, the back line, led by Caitlin Guilfoil, Morgan Kenna and Addyson Graham, closed in and forced mistakes, and goalie Gianna Tantalo also turned away several C-NS attempts.
Late in the second half, the Warriors clung to an 8-6 advantage. In a three-minute stretch, though, C-NS converted twice and pulled even, ultimately seeing regulation time end that way.
All through the four minutes of OT, the tension continued to build, at least until Carbone made her memorable play that, once allowed, got the Warriors a chance to avenge two other regular-season losses this spring, to top seed and heavy favorite Baldwinsville, in Tuesday’s sectional final at SUNY-Cortland.
Earlier that night, B’ville had entered the post-season fray, facing no. 4 seed Christian Brothers Academy in the first semifinal, and the Bees, refreshed and ready to roll, never let the Brothers get into he argument, pulling away for a comprehensive 19-6 win.
When these teams had met early in May, CBA had put up enough of an effort, even as B’ville won 15-9, to allow the Bees reason to take the game with full and serious intent- which was obvious from the opening draw.
Mia Pozzi, who won six draw controls, set a dominant tone, and Pozzi, Carlie Desimone and Sara Hunter led a prolific attack that steadily built an 11-3 advantage by halftime.
By game’s end, Desimone had scored five times, adding an assist, while Pozzi and Hunter notched three-goal hat tricks. Sophia Ianno and Grace Hollenbeck each gained two goals and one assist as Caitlin Sacco and Alexza Zalla had single goals.
