To say that the circumstances of the second boys soccer clash of the season between Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool were different than the first one vastly understates it.
Back when the Warriors won 2-1 on Sept. 17 at LHS Stadium, the Northstars still had not won a game amid an 0-5-1 start.
But when the two sides reunited at the Gillette Road complex last Thursday night C-NS’s entire season had turned around, but event his fact, along with a long shutout streak, did not prevent the Warriors from maintaining its slim edge in the rivalry.
As expected, the two defenses controlled most of the game, leading to a scoreless first half and a concern that no one would break through, either in regulation or overtime.
However, in the second half Liverpool pushed hard and Cam Farrell found the net, which held up for a 1-0 Warriors win as it ultimately limited the Northstars to three shots, all grabbed by Jacob McQuatters.
C-NS’s five-game win streak was capped by knocking off state Class AAA no. 4-ranked Fayetteville-Manlius 1-0 two nights earlier on this same Gillette grass.
This was a triumph authored by the C-NS defense, who registered its fifth consecutive shutout constantly frustrating a Hornets attack who had plenty of opportunities to go in front.
Meanwhile, the Northstars were patient, awaited its chance – and in the second half Dante Melfi, taking a pass from Ryan Frisch, put it past Jeremy Albert for the game’s only goal.
Now the question was whether C-NS could keep it up against Liverpool, no. 6 in those same state AAA rankings and at 8-1-1 following another 2-1 decision last Tuesday night, this one over Henninger.
Having not played in more than a week, the Warriors were slowed down early, the game 0-0 until a second half where Jared Reynolds and Cam Farrell both scored, overcoming 11 saves by Black Knights goalie Jean Damuru.
After its second battle with Liverpool C-NS would take on Baldwinsville Saturday afternoon, and were unable to do much against the Bees in a 4-0 defeat.
What was a tight 1-0 game at halftime got away late despite Tyler Munnich’s seven saves. Derek Barr (two assists) and Owen Daly (one goal, one assist) led a B’ville attack which also got goals from Will Stevens, Tamer Abraham and Brayden Schrader.
Liverpool would take its own defeat on Saturday, a 2-1 overtime decision to state Class AAA no. 10-ranked Rochester McQuaid where the Knights pulled it out after the Warriors tied it on Dom Paolini’s second-half goal, assisted by Ramiz Mehmedovic. McQuatters finished with eight saves.
As C-NS meets Henninger this week Liverpool would have a busy closing stretch capped Saturday by a visit from F-M that could have a major say in how the Section III playoffs are seeded.