CICERO – Perhaps two games cannot make up for the sheer importance of another one, at another inopportune time, that slipped away.
Still, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls soccer team gained as much satisfaction as it could from rival Liverpool in the 2022 regular season, capped by Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over the Warriors at Bragman Stadium.
The memory of having an undefeated season spoiled by a Section III Class AA semifinal defeat to Liverpool motivated C-NS throughout the off-season leading into 2022.
Then, when they met Sept. 14 at LHS Stadium, a stirring late comeback and an overtime goal by Allison Dimitrijevski produced a 2-1 C-NS win, again showing the close nature of the rivalry.
Reunited on the Northstars’ home turf a few weeks later, the teams got together for a special cause, donning white (Liverpool) and black (C-NS) jerseys with gold numbers on them.
It was all to promote awareness of childhood cancer and the Griffin’s Guardians program, something the two teams have done together for the last four years.
Right away, Liverpool controlled most of the early possession, even if it didn’t lead to many close scoring chances.
C-NS counterattacked well and, midway through the first half, inched in front when Adrianna Calabria, from the right corner, lofted an accurate cross to the middle and Maya Germain deflected it past Liverpool goalie Hannah Smith.
To its credit, the Warriors didn’t let the Northstars add to that slim one-goal margin, Smith producing seven saves, but as the second half wore on C-NS spent more time in the Warriors’ end, possessing the ball and avoiding danger.
Grace Engle anchored a tremendous defensive effort by the Northstars, constantly working the ball out of her own end, and helped by Kori Toms and Chloe Tice, protecting goalie MeghanMcGrath, who stopped all seven shots she faced.
In order to climb to first place in the SCAC Metro division, C-NS needs to win Friday at Fayetteville-Manlius, attempting to avenge a 1-0 defeat to the Hornets back in September.
And the Northstars did get on the board twice, only to see F-M double that total and prevail again, 4-2, led by Morgan Goodman’s two goals and one assist as Lexi Caron and Una Vlasak had the other goals.
A night before this, Liverpool hosted Baldwinsville, a game that was tense and tight all the way until late in regulation, when Grace Muller helped the Warriors topple the Bees 1-0.
Having won 1-0 at B’ville on Sept. 20, Liverpool put together a more consistent attack that challenged the Bees’ defense throughout the night.
Eventually, the attack did wear down the Bees as, in the last 10 minutes of regulation, Muller put in one goal, assisted by Mya Wright, and assisted when Alexa Marsh found the net. Smith only had to make three saves.
