VERONA – When the Cicero-North Syracuse field hockey team got shut out in each of its last two regular-season games following a 12-0 start, what disappeared was the sense that the Northstars’ run to a Section III Class A championship was inevitable.
It turned out far different – in fact, claiming it required a stirring comeback in Sunday’s championship game against Rome Free Academy at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School.
The Northstars, down two goals, erased all of it and went out in front with a three-goal outburst in a span of less than 12 minutes to stun the Black Knights 3-2 and claim its first sectional title since 2018.
From the outset, it was clear that RFA, who had knocked out defending champion Baldwinsville 2-1 in the semifinals a week earlier, proved that it was far removed from the side C-NS had blasted 5-0 back on Sept. 2.
The Black Knights kept the Northstars off the board during a scoreless first quarter and mostly kept the ball in C-NS’s end, too.
Then RFA provided more pressure by taking the lead a minute into the second period, forcing a scramble in front of the C-NS net where Alexa Thompson converted, with the assist going to Isabel McMahon.
It remained that way going to halftime, the Northstars earning just one penalty corner to the Black Knights’ six.
Six minutes into the third period, RFA doubled its margin to 2-0, Drew Kopek converting when she deflected a Fiona McMahon shot into the net.
Only now did the Northstars start to piece together an attack, and when RFA committed a foul that led to a penalty stroke, Gabby Wameling, with 2:25 left in the third quarter, converted her third goal of the post-season, giving C-NS ample time to catch up.
As the game went to the fourth quarter, the Northstars attacked on a more consistent basis. With 11:34 left, a Shannon Brown shot made it through several Black Knights defenders and, when it found the net, tied it at 2-2.
It did not remain even for long. C-NS swarmed and, with less than six minutes left, saw Addie Esce leap on a rebound and put in the go-ahead goal – which, as it turned out, would win a championship.
C-NS meets Section IV champion Greene this Saturday at 11 a.m. at Sidney High School. The winner advances to the Nov. 12-13 state final four at Centereach High School on Long Island.
