CENTRAL NEW YORK – One more test of growth and maturity would determine whether this new version of the Cicero-North Syracuse girls soccer team could echo what the 2023 edition did and win a Section III Class AAA championship.
It was the no. 2 seed Northstars against top seed Baldwinsville in Saturday night’s title game at SUNY-Cortland, and though this team was quite different in composition and character, it still managed to repeat.
What was more, this 1-0 victory by C-NS over the top-seeded Bees showcased the team’s vast progress along with its ability to learn from past missteps.
These teams had split two games in the regular season, but B’ville had won the last meeting 2-0 on Oct. 11, and above anything else C-NS was determined not to fall behind again.
Little did it imagine, though, that in the opening minutes the Northstars would get the only offense it needed – and not from one of its young stars, either.
Katalina Lawrence is one of just two seniors on the C-NS roster. Prior to the sectional final, she had only scored four goals this season, but it was Lawrence getting the ball past Abby DeSimone amid a net scramble five minutes into the match.
As it turned out, the Northstars would need to protect that slim margin the rest of the way. An effective Bees defense cut off most of the Northstars’ lanes and would keep the game close all the way to the final whistle.
Put on the spot, the C-NS back line responded with its second straight playoff shutout, ably protecting keeper Natalie LaPoint and seeing out the Northstars’ title-winning effort.
These teams took far different paths in their respective semifinals Wednesday at Jamesville-DeWitt. B’ville went first, against Rome Free Academy, scoring three times in a five-minute span early in the first half on the way to handling the Black Knights 5-0.
C-NS, on the other hand, had to sweat it out all 80 minutes against no. 3 seed Fayetteville-Manlius, leaning on patience and poise to finally put away the Hornets 1-0.
The Northstars had prevailed over F-M by that same margin two weeks earlier after a 2-2 draw in the first meeting, and a scoreless first half added to the tension.
What ultimately pulled C-NS through was a defense which rarely let the Hornets get many close-up looks. F-M had just five direct shots, all gathered up by Natalie LaPoint.\
The breakthrough came late as eighth-grader Sloane Raymond flashed open and, taking a pass from Abby Mackey, put it past Mackenzie Martin for the decisive goal.
Another tough game followed against B’ville and, once again, C-NS proved up to it, paving the way for its return to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament.
At Nottingham High School next Saturday at 2 p.m. the Northstars face the Section II champion (which comes out of Monday’s final between Saratoga Springs and Shaker) with a berth in the Nov. 16-17 state final four on the line.
