CORTLAND – Though the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse has grown used to playing in – and winning – big games at SUNY-Cortland, the satisfaction felt at the end of Monday night’s Section III Class A final was mixed in with a healthy dose of relief.
West Genesee did everything but beat the Northstars, staying on even terms with them most of the game and then, trailing late in the fourth quarter, staging a furious comeback before one successful draw allowed C-NS to hang on and prevail 18-17.
To say that this game defied expectations understates it. When these same two teams met in the regular season the Northstars dominated both of them, handling WG by a combined 29-7 margin that reflected how C-NS had rolled past most of its opposition.
Yet this was not the same Wildcats team of before. It had already turned around one set of regular-season results in the sectional semifinals May 29 when it beat Fayetteville-Manlius 13-10 in the semifinals after losing twice to the Hornets earlier in the spring.
Within the space of the first quarter this point was proven. C-NS jumped out to a 5-1 lead with its quick-strike attack only to have WG make up all the ground before the period ended and forge a 6-6 tie.
By the early portion of the second period the Wildcats had easily eclipsed the combined total of those first two games against the Northstars, and it had to since C-NS was converting at the same rate, the two sides also playing to a 6-6 stalemate in that frame.
Any question about whether WG could keep up its high level of play after this 12-12 first half was answered in the third quarter, for though the pace quieted down a bit the two sides remained close, WG tying it again at 15-15 when Molly Doran converted just before the period ended.
Only in the final period did C-NS appear to finally get control, inching ahead on consecutive goals from Sophia Graham and, with less than four minutes left, getting the margin to 18-15 on Elizabeth Smith’s third goal of the night. It would need every bit of that cushion.
WG cut the margin to two when Maria Snyder converted with 2:33 left and, despite the Northstars’ attempts to run out the clock, got within one when Sophia Lawrence netted her fourth goal with 37 seconds to play, ample time to get a draw and threaten for a tying goal.
However, C-NS, so strong in the draw circle all season, claimed this one, too, and held on, having seen Natalie Wilson net a career-best six goals to lead her side and Graham add four goals.
Even with much of the Wildcats’ defensive focus on her, Sophia Nesci still scored twice and got three assists, with Miabella Gates also getting two goals. On WG’s side, Doran scored five times and Snyder matched Lawrence’s four goals.
Now C-NS would go for back-to-back state championships. In Wednesday’s opening round of regional play the Northstars steamrolled past Plattsburgh 25-1, led by Nesci’s four goals and two assists. Wilson, Putman and Vivianna Beardsley each recorded three-goal hat tricks as Addie Esce got two goals and two assists. Smith and Gates also scored twice.
This set up Saturday’s regional final at Queensbury High School where the Northstars kept on rolling, bashing Section II champion Niskayuna 22-9 by not waiting to make a decisive move.
Following a quick exchange of goals C-NS reeled off five in a row, Putman gaining draws and her teammates turning them into scoring plays. By the end of the first period the Northstars held a 9-3 edge.
Maintaining the torrid pace, C-NS grew the margin to double digits in the second period, ultimately up 14-4 by halftime with seven different goal-scorers and then holding Nisky to a single goal in the third period to prevent any possible comeback.
Smith and Graham led with five goals apiece. Nesci scored four times to go with three assists, Wilson adding three goals and Putman two goals and an assist to go with 19 successful draws. Gates picked up a goal and three assists.
Next Friday at 11:30 a.m. at SUNY-Cortland the Northstars face Section V’s Penfield in the state semifinals. The winner gets to the title game 24 hours later on that same turf against Suffern or Ithaca as C-NS is two wins from repeating as state champions.
