ONONDAGA COUNTY – Two remarkable facts continued to stand out about the Liverpool boys soccer team as it sped toward the halfway point of the regular season.
First, no one had set scored on the Warriors. But it still only found itself with two victories on its card after yet another 0-0 draw with Nottingham last Tuesday night at LHS Stadium.
It was the third straight game Liverpool had played 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime without a goal from either side, all in home games.
Just like it was with Cicero-North Syracuse and East Syracuse Minoa, it was a stalemate with Nottingham, the occasional big chance on both ends.
Liverpool was held to just three direct shots, but watched as Jacob McQuatters, in his sixth straight shutout, held the Bulldogs to just five shots.
It wasn’t until Saturday, against Corcoran/ITC, that the shutout streak finally ended in the first – but it came amid a seven-goal Liverpool outburst on the way to a 10-1 victory.
Antonio Wilson, with a three-goal hat trick, led the charge, with Albin Buja scoring twice. Kensly Delva, Max Appier, Evan Slater, Jean Nabwanja and Camden Farrell also earned goals, with Dominic Paolini getting a pair of assists and Dylan Abdo also earning an assist.
For nearly two weeks, C-NS had not recorded a goal, a stretch that spanned more than 300 minutes and covered parts of four games.
Just in time, though, the Northstars were able to break that seal and convert in last Tuesday’s game at Jamesville-DeWitt, which led to a comeback and a 2-1 win over the Red Rams.
When Mahir Becchir converted in the first half, C-NS trailed 1-0 and found that its challenge was as much mental and physical.
Thanks to Jackson Petzoldt, it didn’t stay that away. All that Petzoldt did in the second half was break the scoring drought, netting a goal while also assisting on Dante Melfi’s tally. Nico Servder helped preserve the win, finishing with five saves.
Up against Fayetteville-Manlius two nights later, C-NS again got itself on the board thanks to Jefferson Cazimir’s goal in the second half.
However, it wasn’t quite enough as the Hornets prevailed in another 2-1 decision, getting both of its goals in the first half as Hugh Terreri scored and assisted on Harrison Kilmer’s tally.
At home all of this week, C-NS welcomes both East Syracuse Minoa and Nottingham, with Liverpool going to F-M and Central Square before hosting J-D on Saturday afternoon.
