Prentice leads C-NS girls lacrosse to first state title since 1996

CORTLAND, NY — "Act like you've been there before," is a common mantra in sports.

Stephanie Prentice, the head coach of Cicero-North Syracuse girls varsity lacrosse, had been.

Prentice, a C-NS alum, was a member of the 1995 and 1996 state championship teams as a player. Now, she's led the Northstars to their first state title since.

"I have goosebumps being back here with this team 27 years later," said Prentice postgame. "They just had a dream and they made it happen," she said of this year's team.

C-NS took down the defending champs, Fairport, to grab the Class A state championship. After back to back goals from sophomore Elizabeth Smith and senior Marissa Doty gave C-NS a 2-0 lead in the first minute of play, Fairport roared back to tie it up at 5-all. A Kaelyn Reid goal gave the Northstars a 6-5 lead heading into the halftime break.

The two teams were locked in a 7-7 battle throughout the third period. Then C-NS showed just how much they wanted it.

The Northstars hit the gas pedal in the fourth quarter, putting up three straight goals to pull away 10-7 and then win it 12-8. Junior Sophia Nesci had six points on two goals and four assists, Smith finished with four points, and junior Natalie Wilson found the back of the net three times.

"We always say (that) we're a big machine and all of the pieces kind of have to click together," said junior Gabrielle Putnam. "Start moving, and you're kind of unstoppable and that's what we started to do towards the end. We kept composure and played our game."

C-NS finishes the season with a 19-2 overall record and a Class A title.