CENTRAL NEW YORK – Youth, and some major improvement from its challengers, left the Cicero-North Syracuse girls soccer team in a challenger’s role going into the Section III Class AAA playoffs.

Still, the Northstars have as much capability as anyone in the field, earning yet another quality win last Wednesday night when great defense and one great shot produced a 1-0 decision over Fayetteville-Manlius.

These two sides played to a 2-2 draw late in September, and for a long while they looked to be even again as several great C-NS chances were turned back by Hornets goalkeeper Mackenzie Murphy, who finished with six saves.

The Northstars kept attacking, though, and eventually earned a free kick. With 16:50 left, Emily Kozdemba ripped that shot past Murphy into the net, and F-M could not answer, held to just four shots all game.

C-NS didn’t stop here, either, going out Saturday and, against state Class B no. 10-ranked Lowville, preventing a possible undefeated regular season by prevailing 2-1 over the Red Raiders.

Lowville was 14-0 into the game, and got on the board in the first half with Alyssa Millard’s goal assisted by Jenna Weller. Yet that was all it could manage against a stingy Northstars defense that only allowed six total shots.

What’s more, C-NS was up by one at halftime thanks to Sloane Raymond, the talented eighth-grader hitting on both of her team’s goals, one of them assisted by Abby Mackey, and then seeing the defense protect it well.

Liverpool, who has struggled all season with its offense, did so again last Tuesday night at Baldwinsville as the Bees pulled away in the second half to top the Warriors 4-0.

Unable to avenge a 3-0 defeat to the Bees in late September, Liverpool saw a close contest most of the night break open with B’ville scoring three times in the second half, led by Beverly Marinelli, who had her first two-goal varsity outing.

Audra Salvagni and Natalie Hollingshead joined in for goals, too, with Nadia Guzman and Naomi Locke each getting an assists. Abby DeSimone turned back all four shots she faced.

Another defeat followed on Friday afternoon, Liverpool falling to West Genesee 5-0 as the Wildcats constantly applied pressure to Riley Smith, who finished with eight saves. Five different WG players – Chelsea Donaldson, Anna Nelson, Addison Kensey, Kelly O’Donnell and Sofia Snyder – produced those five goals.