ONONDAGA COUNTY – This boys lacrosse season could not have started more different for Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool, and the question was whether it would stay that way for Tuesday night’s showdown at Bragman Stadium.
On the road late last week, the Warriors were 0-2 as it ventured to Auburn before a Saturday visit from Chirstian Brothers Academy, all quickly following a 13-12, double-overtime defeat to Section IV’s Vestal.
A poor start left Liverpool trailing 4-2 through one quarter, but it blanked the Golden Bears the rest of the half and led 6-5 at the break, and from there it would go back and forth.
Still in front 8-7 going to the fourth quarter, the Warriors scored four times. Still, Vestal caught up, forced OT and, after a scoreless first extra period, won it in the second.
Balanced in its attack, Liverpool got three-goal hat tricks from Dom Osbeck and Chris Matott, with Mason Gridley getting two goals and two assists. Owen Michaud had a goal and two assists, while Brady Michaud, Danny Dunn and Brendan Caraher also found the net.
Contrasting this was Thursday’s game against Auburn at Holland Stadium, where Liverpool proceeded to unload all of the frustration of the first two games on the Maroons and not let up until it had won by a 17-4 margin.
Already up 4-3 through one quarter, Liverpool settled matters with a 6-0 blitz through the rest of the half and didn’t allow another goal until the fourth quarter when the game was well in hand.
Owen Michaud scored five times to top Auburn’s entire output, while Brady Michaud’s four goals matched it and Mattot dished out four assists to go with his hat trick. Gavin Kenna got two goals and one assist, with Osbeck and Gridley both putting up a goal and two assists. Dunn tacked on a goal.
Now the Warriors looked for back-to-back wins Saturday when Christian Brothers Academy visited LHS Stadium, and achieved it with timely defense that created an early margin and an eventual 11-7 win over the Brothers.
CBA did not get on the board until the second quarter, by which point Liverpool was not only in front, but able to match what the Brothers threw at them so it could lead 7-4 at the break.
Then CBA got just one goal in the third period, and the margin grew to 11-5 at Mattot and Brady Michaud both notched hat tricks, fed often by Osbeck, who got two goals and four assists. Gridley and Owen Michaud each had a goal and two assists as Caraher earned a goal and Gavin Kenna an assist. Salanger finished with 10 saves.
That same day, C-NS returned to action against South Jefferson and, ignoring the windy, wet weather, rolled past the Spartans 10-4, with Leyton Sullivan’s 10 saves anchoring an effective Northstars defense.
Adrian Sweeney’s four goals equaled the entire South Jefferson roster. Tanner Long and Rocco Villano each converted twice, with Cy Liberman getting a goal and two assists. Donovan Chaney managed one goal and one assist.
Once C-NS and Liverpool were done facing each other, the Northstars would have games later in the week against East Syracuse Minoa and Syracuse City, while the Warriors host West Genesee on Thursday and Victor on Saturday afternoon.
