CENTRAL NEW YORK – Once again, the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team is finding it difficult to keep up with many of its Division I peers.

The Northstars went to Meachem Rink last Tuesday night and, against the Syracuse Cougars, made a late-game surge, but could not overcome its early struggles in a 7-5 loss.

It was 5-2 through two periods when C-NS put up its best effort in the third, scoring three times, only to see Syracuse hang on with two more insurance goas as Nick Rayfield (four goals, one assist) led the way.

Tanner Long did get two goals and one assist. Andrew Davis had a goal and two assists, with Hayden Scott and Braden Porter also converting. Logan Bucher and Nate Bustin tacked on assists.

Back at Midstate Community Athletic Center Thursday night to face Ithaca, C-NS, looking to climb back to the .500 mark, did so with a 3-1 victory over the Little Red.

The Northstars built a 3-0 advantage through two periods as Long, Davis and Braden Porter got the goals, with assists earned by Scott, Emmit Porter, Tyler Milewski, Robert Warner and Andrew Matyasik. Superb in the net, Ethan Mackenzie blanked Ithaca until the third period and finished with 34 saves.

Liverpool went to Utica’s brand-new Nexus Center to face Mohawk Valley last Wednesday night and took it to overtime, only to lose 2-1 to the Jugglers.

Neither team scored until the third period, the Warriors again seeing James Welch dazzle as he would ultimately stop 44 of Mohawk Valley’s 46 shots.

Calen Brown scored in the third period, assisted by Alex Kirkby, but the Jugglers still got to OT and won it as Luke Williams and Jacob Posello each had one goal and one assist.

Less than 24 hours later at State Fair Coliseum, Liverpool hosted Clinton and, in this clash of Warrior sides, a third-period exchange saw Clinton match what Liverpool did and prevail 3-2.

Neither side scored in the first period, but Clinton’s lone second-period tally ended up being the difference as Evan Haskins twice found the net in the third – once unassisted, the other assisted by Kirkby, only to have the visitors also convert twice.

Overcoming 42 saves from Trevor Smith, Clinton got goals from Aiden Solka, James Crowley and Tyler Jarvis. Liverpool meets Syracuse and Cazenovia this week, while C-NS is home Wednesday to try and break Baldwinsville’s 10-game win streak.