CENTRAL NEW YORK – One more time, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls soccer teams confront one another in the regular season next Tuesday night at LHS Stadium, not knowing if a third playoff encounter is ahead.
If that is the case, then the Northstars, even with its no. 10 state Class AAA ranking, might find that the Warriors have made up lots of ground on them since C-NS prevailed 2-0 the first time they met Sept. 19.
The biggest evidence of this was Tuesday’s impressive performance by Liverpool against unbeaten, state Class AA no. 11-ranked East Syracuse Minoa, who had not lost this season – until it fell 2-0 to the Warriors.
Not only was ESM sporting an 8-0-2 mark, it had run over C-NS 7-0 earlier this season. But Liverpool, who had started its season 1-4, had gone 4-1 since then and was ready to earn a marquee victory.
The Spartans were frustrated from the moment the game kicked off, each of its chances turned back by a Warriors defense that shadowed 100-goal scorer Leah Rehm all the way.
On the other end, Liverpool went up 1-0 by halftime, doubled that margin in the second half and saw Grace Sleeth protect it by recording 10 saves, rewarding the goals put up by Mia Wright and Alexa Marsh as Sydney Zingaro was credited with an assist.
Now rolling, the Warriors went to Auburn Thursday night and got a chance to unleash its attack in a significant manner, nearly getting to double digits in a 9-2 victory over the Maroons.
Eight of those goals came in a first-half barrage where Marsh and Grace Muller each would produce three-goal hat tricks, helped by passes from Sydney Zingaro and Eliana Scivetti, who had two assists apiece.
Not to be left out, Wright got a goal, as did Scivetti and Taylor McCoy, with Emilie Masterson also gaining an assist.
C-NS followed up a key 2-0 win over Baldwinsville Sept. 30 by facing Central Square last Monday night and fighting hard in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Redhawks.
Running its win streak to six, the state Class AAA no. 10-ranked Northstars stayed patient through a scoreless first half before Emilee Rio converted in the second half to answer a goal from Central Square’ Ryan Colton.
They would head to OT, where Rio would, with a timely pass, send it to Emery Kozdemba, who put the game-winner past Central Square goalie Natalie Crandall, who to that point had frustrated C-NS most of the way, recording 16 saves.
Far easier was last Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Syracuse City, where the Northsars were up 2-0 by halftime and doubled that margin late with a deep, well-balanced attack.
Only Julianna Edwards scored twice, with Adrianna Calabria earning a pair of assists as she, along with Addison Mackey and Maya Germain, got single goals. Abigail Mackey, Alexa Belknap and Katalina Lawrence also reached the assist column.
Now having won seven in a row, C-NS could look ahead to the Liverpool clash along with next Saturday’s regular-season finale against state Class B no. 4-ranked Lowville, while Liverpool gets to welcome Westhill, ranked in the state Class A top 10, Saturday after a Thursday-night trip to Baldwinsville.
