Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse is off to its best start since it won its first nine games to start the 2017 season.
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The Northstars improved to 5-0 with Saturday's 15-9 victory over Section II's Bethlehem at C-NS High School Stadium.
"It's been great, but we are really focused on one game at a time," C-NS coach Stephanie Prentice said. "I think each win obviously helps with that confidence, but we take it one game at a time, so we're just looking to the next one."
Freshman Elizabeth Smith led the Northstars with four goals, an assist, a ground ball and nine draw controls. The first-year varsity player already has 12 goals this season.
"It's definitely not a surprise," Prentice said. "She's a really great player. Most of her goals we're off of assists, which is awesome and what we look for on our team."
In total, six players scored for the Northstars in Saturday's game. That includes senior Shea Firth (3 goals), sophomore Kathleen Harbold (1 goal, 2 assists), sophomore Sophia Nesci (2 goals, 1 assist), junior Brooke Molchanoff (3 goals, 4 assists) and junior Mackenzie Prentice (2 goals, 3 assists).
"I feel like every game we've played, someone stepped up in each game," C-NS' coach said. "It's been great to see that happen. When we have six or seven girls score, we're happy. That's always our goal offensively. To make sure that we have several attack points and several players that can put the ball in the cage."
The Northstars also got solid goalie play from senior Nicole Mirra and sophomore Jillian Howell. The duo combined for six total saves.
"Our goalies are great," coach Prentice said. "They're such awesome teammates together supporting each other. We don't normally go with a two-goalie situation, but both of them are so amazing. We feel like we can't keep either one on the bench."
C-NS' hot start to the season has also been in large part to its defense and its deep roster which is littered with elite cross-country and track athletes. That allowed the Northstars to out-stamina Bethlehem on the field.
