Lady Warriors in the News

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The Review, June 4, 2008--Girls Lacrosse Warriors Rise Up For Playoff Run--by Phil Blackwell

After May 6, when the Liverpool girls lacrosse team suffered yet another defeat to West Genesee to see its mark slip to 3-10, the Warriors were all but forgotten as anyone that could make any noise in this 2008 season. Yet when the Section III Class A semifinals rolled around last Thursday at Marcellus High School, the Warriors were there--not as spectators, but as players trying to blunt the top-seeded Wildcats' 43-game win streak. Though Liverpool could not pull off this shocker, falling to West Genesee 18-6, it still had done a marvelous job getting to that point.

Liverpool got there by virtue of beating no. 4 seed Baldwinsville 12-8 in a Class A quarterfinal last Tuesday at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium that really wasn't as close as the final margin would show. Due to schedule changes, B'ville decided to have its Senior Night here, instead of at the end of the regular season. Whether it distracted the Bees or not, the truth was that Liverpool was primed to play from the moment the game started.

Aside from a 3-3 tie less than 10 minutes into the game, Liverpool led the entire way, as all of the positive aspects of its game built through a five-game win streak to close out the regular season burst through here. Instead of having so much of the offense center around Jennifer VanderMeulen, many different Warrior players gave the Bees fits. Jordan Miller and Marybeth Madia both matched VanderMeulen with three goals and one assist, while Alyssa Renk scored twice and Kathleen Conese added a goal and Alison Flood earned two assists.

When the Bees attacked, Liverpool's lively mix of defenders stepped up. Veterans Carolyn Barry and Katie Wood joined newcomers Marlee Heintz and Laura Sammon in forcing B'ville into turnovers and rushed shots. And even when the Bees got open looks, Mikey Meagher shut the door, as the junior goalie enjoyed, arguably, her best game of the season, finishing with 17 saves, most of them point-blank stops.

Meagher, and her teammates, would have to be twice as good to top West Genesee, who had lost exactly one game (the 2006 Class A final to Fayetteville-Manlius) in the last three seasons. Fully aware of all this, WG never let Liverpool into the argument, racing out to a 12-1 first-half lead as it dominated the possession time and ripped all kinds of shots past Meagher. Lauren Welch (five goals, one assist) and Kiersten Tupper (seven assists) led the Wildcats' push.

Most of Liverpool's offense came in the second half, where Conese scored twice. WG's defense held VanderMeulen to one goal and one assist as Miller, Pollock and Flood also took turns getting goals. West Genesee would go on to beat Fayetteville-Manlius 13-7 in Sunday's Class A final, its 45th consecutive victory.

The Post Standard, May 28, 2008

Liverpool 12, Baldwinsville 8: In another playoff upset, fifth-seeded Liverpool (9-10) built a four-goal halftime lead and maintained that margin at the finish to end the season for the fourth-seeded Bees (12-6). The Warriors got three goals each from Marybeth Madia, Jordan Miller, and Jen VanderMeulen to sting the Bees.

The Review, May 21, 2008--Liverpool Girls Lacrosse Gets Pair of Wins--by Phil Blackwell

In this season full of immense struggle, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team welcomed any chance to win big against somebody. When that opportunity came last Wednesday night at Rome Free Academy Stadium, the Warriors seized it and rolled to a 19-7 victory over the Black Knights. Liverpool blazed to a 10-1 edge at halftime and never let up its pace, even with the game well out of reach.

Jennifer VanderMeulen had four goals and four assists. Amanda Pollock and Marybeth Madia each had three goals and one assist, while Briana Mancini scored twice and Kathleen Conese earned four assists. Alyssa Renk, Alison Flood, Carolyn Barry, Kristen Zylka, Megan Sardella, Anna Daucher and Katie Wood each managed a goal, too, as Jordan Miller picked up an assist.

Continuing in this vein, the Warriors went to Oswego Friday night and won big, routing the Buccaneers 14-4. It was 9-1 in the first half alone as Liverpool showed little mercy on its way to improving to 7-10 on the season. Pollock and Miller eached earned three-goal hat tricks, with Madia, Conese and Flood earning two goals apiece. VanderMeulen had a goal and two assists, with Zylka also scoring.

The Review, May 14, 2008--Liverpool Girls Stopped by West Genesee--by Phil Blackwell

For a long while last Tuesday night in Camillus, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team played on fairly even terms with West Genesee, winners of 35 in a row and the defending state Class A champions. However, that only came after a long, difficult first half where the Wildcats once again asserted its offense, leaving the Warriors on the wrong end of a 17-7 decision. Five of these goals came in the second half, a nice surge--but everything before that point belonged to the Wildcats, who raced to an 11-2 advantage before Liverpool could find itself in the late going.

Allison Flood stepped up for three goals, while Jennifer VanderMeulen scored twice. Alyssa Renk and Amanda Pollock also scored. Mikey Meagher worked hard in the net, earning 15 saves, but could not keep everything out as Kiersten Tupper, with a goal and seven assists, led WG along.

The Warriors would return to the win colum Friday night, at Corcoran, holding on down the stretch for an 18-17 victory over the Cougars. No one could stop anything in the first half, but Liverpool won enough draws to move in front, the goal-a-minute pace producing a 15-10 Warrior advantage as they went to the break. Corcoran slowed things down in the second half and did a remarkable job on defense turning it around, nearly catching up before the Warriors could escape.

VanderMeulen found the net seven times, while Pollock gained six goals, a new season mark. Jordan Miller and Kathleen Conese each found the net twice, while Flood also scored. For the Cougars, Liz Manipole earned six goals.

In Monday's non-league game against Honoeye Falls-Lima, the Warriors held on for a 9-8 victory as VanderMeulen piled up four goals and two assists, with Pollock adding three goals and one assist. Flood and Marybeth Madia each had one goal and one assist, with Miller adding two assists.

The Warriors play Wednesday night at Rome Free Academy before going to Oswego on Friday.

The Post Standard, May 10, 2008

Liverpool 18, Corcoran 17: After building a five-goal halftime lead, Liverpool (1-5, 4-10) fought off a strong second-half rally by the Cougars to post the CNYCL win. Jennifer VanderMeulen netted seven goals and teammate Amanda Pollock added six for the Warriors.

The Review, May 7, 2008--Liverpool Girls Lax Falls to B'ville, C-NS--by Phil Blackwell

Up against both of its biggest rivals, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team could not register a season-turning victory. The Warriors met Baldwinsville last Tuesday night at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium and hung close, but could not spread its attack around, leading to a 10-6 loss to the Bees. By halftime, Jennifer VanderMeulen already had a hat trick, but Liverpool trailed 7-4, and VanderMeulen's teammates were unable to break loose and contribute to the team's attack. Thus, VanderMeulen finished with five of the team's six goals. Otherwise, only Marybeth Madia was able to score, as the Bees' defense effectively cut off the other options.

For its part, Liverpool's defense did a solid job, too, as Mikey Meagher picked up 15 saves. B'ville had a lot more balance, though, as Mackenzie Kjerstad earned three goals and Quincey Spagnoletti and Meagan Rowe each scored twice.

After some rest, the Warriors went up against Cicero-North Syracuse Saturday night at Solvay's Earl Hadley Stadium and took a 16-6 loss to the Northstars. As in many other cases this season, Liverpool's attack proved to be too limited in scope. VanderMeulen and Amanda Pollock accounted for three goals apiece, but no one else scored.

Meagher fended off enough threats to produce 17 saves, but CNS still controlled the game from start to finish as Alyssa Cristaldi and Lis Zuern each had four goals and Tori Praino added three goals and three assists.

The Warriors (3-9) had to meet defending state Class A champion West Genesee Tuesday night, in Camillus, before visiting Corcoran on Friday night.

The Review, April 30, 2008--Liverpool Teams Swept by F-M--by Phil Blackwell

Each of the Liverpool lacrosse teams played just once during the wek following spring break, and neither would prevail against Fayetteville-Manlius on Friday night. Of the two, the girls Warriors came much closer to victory, going all the way into sudden death at Solvay's Earl Hadley Stadium before falling to the Hornets 15-14.

Through a low-scoring first half and a quicker second half, Liverpool matched everything F-M tried to establish, with stars Jennifer VanderMeulen and Amanda Pollock in top form. VanderMeulen finished with six goals and one assist, with Pollock contributing five goals as Liverpool dragged the game into a pair of three-minute overtime periods that did not resolve the outcome.

Under intense pressure all night, Liverpool goalie Mikey Meagher made 31 saves--but she could not keep F-M's Mary Elizabeth Klepper from landing the game-winner in sudden death, Klepper's fifth goal of the night. Klepper also got a bit more help, from players like Jenn Williams (four goals) and Mary Hartzheim (three goals, two assists). Liverpool was not as balanced, as just three goals--two by Alison Flood, one by MaryBeth Madia--came away from VanderMeulen and Pollock.

The Review, April 16, 2008--Liverpool Girls Lacrosse Beaten by B'ville--by Phil Blackwell

All through its early season struggles, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team's big concerns include finding a full range of offensive threats and shoring up defense where necessary. Both issues came to the forefront last Wednesday night at Solvay's Earl Hadley Stadium, when the Warriors took an 11-6 loss to the Baldwinsville Bees to drop to 3-3 on the season. B'ville, in its last game before a week-long trip to England for the spring break, jumped out in front and stayed there, leading 6-3 at halftime and never allowing the Warriors to make a serious run. While the Bees' defense allowed Amanda Pollock to get four goals, it clamped down on Jennifer VanderMeulen, holding her to one goal and one assist. Jordan Miller had one goal and two assists, as Megan Sardella and Allison Flood added assists, too. For her part, Mikey Meagher made nine saves. B'ville had too much depth and balance, though, as eight different players scored. Kara Moschetti (two goals, two assists) led their push.

And the struggles continued on Friday night at "The Pit" when Henninger/Nottingham showed up and made it five wins in as many outings, beating the Warriors 12-7. Liverpool never recovered from a first-half tilted in the Black Knights' favor, as the visitors seized an 8-3 advantage. The Warriors played on even terms the rest of the way, but could not catch up. VanderMeulen scored four times, as Alyssa Renk added two goals and Pollock got the other tally. Miller and Kathleen Conese got assists. Henninger/Nottingham's Dayna Piraino flattened the Warriors' defense by earning four goals and four assists.

To start the week of spring break, Liverpool tried to bounce back Monday against neighbor and rival Cicero-North Syracuse at Bragman Stadium, and played the Northstars close before taking an 11-9 defeat. The problem here was that Liverpool took too long to get started, falling behind 8-4 by halftime. The defense fared better in the second half, but the Warriors could not come all the way back. Madia and VanderMeulen each earned three-goal hat tricks, while Pollock scored twice and Conese got the other tally. Meagher finished with 11 saves. For CNS, Rachel Geruso scored three times as Missy Pacini, Lis Zuern and Alyssa Crystaldi got two goals apiece.

Following that, Liverpool (3-5) went to Long Island for games against Northport and Farmingdale before resuming play next Tuesday at East Rochester.

The Review, April 9, 2008--Liverpool Girls Lax Has 2-2 Stretch--by Phil Blackwell

Not even a week had passed in the regular season, and the Liverpool girls lacrosse team already knows what the top level looks like, up close. It came from West Genesee, who arrived at the Warriors' temporary home of Solvay's Earl Hadley Stadium last Thursday night and prevailed by a score of 15-3. WG, the defending state Class A champions, did a superb job containing Liverpool's potent attack in the first half, giving up just one goal and proving just as stingy even when it possessed a big lead in the late going.

Jennifer VanderMeulen had one goal and one assist, as Alyssa Renk and Jordan Miller got the other goals. For West Genesee, Kiersten Tupper produced five assists as Ariel Kramer, Bre Hudgins and Amanda Cizenski each had three goals to negate the 17 saves put up by Liverpool goalie Mikey Meagher.

Without any time to rest, the Warriors plunged into a weekend set of games against teams visiting from the Buffalo area, both of which it would win. First, Liverpool beat Lancaster 13-8, a steady effort where VanderMeulen poured in six goals and Amanda Pollock came back to life, earning four goals and two assists. Renk scored twice, while Miller earned one goal and one assist.

The Warriors went on Saturday to outscore Amherst 18-11, putting up 13 first-half goals to pull far away from the Tigers. Here, VanderMeulen had eight goals and Pollock got six goals, while Marybeth Madia found time to earn her own three-goal hat trick. Miller scored twice as Kathleen Conese and Briana Mancini also got goals.

When that was done, Liverpool came back to league play Monday at Fayetteville-Manlius and again struggled, falling to the Hornets 15-8. Before it could even get settled, Liverpool found itself far behind, a deficit that grew to 10-2 by halftime as Mary Elizabeth Klepper (four goals) and Shannnon McHugh (three goals) led F-M along. Only in the second half did Liverpool get any kind of consistent attack going. VanderMeulen earned four goals and one assist as Pollock, Renk, Madia and Alison Flood got the other goals.

Liverpool will be back at Solvay's "Pit" twice this week for challenging games against Baldwinsville and Henninger/Nottingham.

The Post Standard, April 8, 2008

F-M 15-Liverpool 8: Emily Pierson passed out a season-high six assists and Mary Elizabeth Klepper scored a team-high four goals to lead the Hornets (2-1) over the Warriors (3-2) in a non-leaguer. F-M's defense, with Lauren Webster in goal, allowed only two first-half goals. Jen VanderMeulen led Liverpool with four goals and one assist.

The Post Standard, April 6, 2008

Liverpool 18, Amherst 11: Jen VanderMeulen scored eight goals and Amanda Pollock added six to lead the Warriors (3-1) over the Section VI Tigers.

The Review, April 2, 2008--Girls Lacrosse Warriors Edge Past Rush-Henrietta--By Phil Blackwell

Accustomed to being good, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team has enough talent back in 2008 to think it can be a bit better. Just four starters--Tricia Hurley, Casey Wilcox, Leah Lazarz, and Kara Kulba--departed from last year's team, which fell to CNS in the Section III Class A quarterfinals. That's the good part. The bad part is that Class A is still full of powerful teams like defending state champion WG, plus CNS, Baldwinsville and F-M. Also, due to the unsafe nature of its own turf, Liverpool is playing all of its home games at Solvay High School's Earl Hadley Stadium, a field turf facility.

It was there, on Monday night, that the Warriors' '08 season began with a hard-fought 7-6 victory over Rush-Henrietta, a Rochester-area school from the Section V ranks. Liverpool scraped to a 5-3 advantage by halftime, then held on as its defense, led by Alyssa Tobia, Jordan Miller and Carolyn Barry, closed ranks around the net as it had all game long. Mikey Meagher, back for her third season as the Warriors' goalie, made eight saves.

On the offensive side, Jennifer VanderMeulen did most of the damage, scoring four times and adding an assist. Amanda Pollock contributed two goals and two assists, while newcomer Alison Flood earned the other goal.

From here, the Warriors will move on to the supreme test Thursday night when it takes on WG on that same Solvay turf. WG outscored its first two opponents by a combined margin of 41-4. Immediately after that, Liverpool takes a weekend trip to the Buffalo area to face Amherst on Friday and Lancaster on Saturday afternoon before a Monday date with F-M--in all, four games in five days.

The Post Standard, April 1, 2008: "Girls Lacrosse CNY Scouting Report"

Preseason Top 10: 1. WG , 2. Skaneateles, 3.CBA , 4. Carthage, 5. Liverpool, 6. Baldwinsville, 7. F-M, 8. J-D, 9. Cortland, 10. Cazenovia

High Scoring Pairs: Amanda Pollock and Jennifer VanderMeulen, Liverpool: Pollock and VanderMeulen ranked 1-2 respecitively, last year in scoring for the Warriors. They accounted for 97 goals and 33 assists. Pollock, who committed to UConn, and VanderMeulen were named players to watch last fall by Inside Lacrosse Magazine.

Defensive Stoppers: Mikey Meagher, Liverpool: Meagher, a junior, is a three-year varsity veteran with 386 career saves, including a career-high 199 last season.

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