Liverpool 11, Cicero-North Syracuse 8

The No. 3-seeded Warriors beat No. 2 Cicero-North Syracuse in Tuesday night's first game behind 20 saves from Owen Salanger and nine points from Owen Michaud.

The Warriors answered each of C-NS' three fourth-quarter goals and avenged an overtime loss to the Northstars earlier this month.  

"That was a little extra fuel to the fire," Liverpool coach Mike Felice said about losing to C-NS in the regular season. "No matter what game we play (the players) bring the same type of energy, the same type of work every single day that we step on the field. And that's why I love coaching these guys."

Michaud, who finished with five goals and four assists, scored twice in the first half as the Warriors opened a 6-1 lead in the second quarter.

The Northstars, led by four goals from Mason Blakeman and 12 saves from Peter Carter, chipped at Liverpool's lead and brought the Warriors within two goals in the fourth quarter.

But Liverpool never trailed, and after Michaud netted his fourth tally late in the game, Salanger stopped a shot at the final horn to solidify Liverpool's spot in the Section III championship.

"We came into this game knowing we had to play well to beat (C-NS)," Michaud said. "(We had) two tough losses to B'ville early, but that doesn't matter, it's a new game."

The loss ended C-NS coach Chuck Wilbur's first season on the Northstars' sideline. Wilbur, who coached Onondaga Community College to 11 NJCAA national championships, led C-NS (9-5) to its best record since the team won 13 games in 2015.