Neither of Cicero-North Syracuse’s lacrosse teams began their respective 2011 seasons with a win – but they both turned things around before the first week was done. Three nights after getting crushed by Macellus 18-3 in its season opener, the Northstars came back home to Bragman Stadium Friday and knocked off reigning Section III Class C champion Carthage by a score of 14-12. The Comets were playing for the first time without two cornerstones of their back-to-back championship teams – Katie Ferris and Katherine DeRonda – and CNS took full advantage of that early adjustment. Tearing through Carthage’s defense throughout the first half, the Northstars kept rolling until it had built a 10-3 edge at the break. Then it spent the second half hanging on as the Comets charged back, led by Kailah Kempney’s five goals and one assist. On the Northstars’ side, Rachel Bowles set the pace with her own five-goal effort, many of them off passes from Stefany Gale, who got four assists. Caitlyn Hamilton produced a three-goal hat trick, while Tiffany Ryan scored twice and added an assist. Jamie Ryan, Sarah Bowles and Kristi Thompson also had goals as Stefanie Reynolds finished with 10 saves. All this was a stark contrast to what happened in the opener at Marcellus. It was 8-0 before the Northstars got on the board late in the first half, Hamilton getting the goal. Sarah Bowles, who had just helped the CNS girls basketball team win the state Class AA title, made the quick transition to lacrosse and also converted, with Rachel Bowles getting the other goal. Marcellus had too much firepower, though, as Florida-bound senior Nora Barry notched six goals, putting her past the 200-goal mark for her career. Catherine Nolan (three goals, three assists) and Molly McGuane (three goals, one assist) offered the main support On the boys end, CNS started at home, meeting Watertown IHC last Tuesday night, but unable to generate much offense in a 6-3 loss to the Cavaliers. CNS actually led, 2-0, through one period, but after that the Cavaliers took possession of the ball and kept it for long stretches, slowing the game down. It paid off, as the Northstars did not convert again until the fourth quarter – by which time IHC was in front to stay, thanks to Lindsey Pound’s three-goal hat trick. Dylan Collins had two goals for CNS, with Tyler Heldt getting the other. Robert Spenard managed a pair of assists and Matt Kennedy got one assist. IHC’s Brad Rowe kept turning away chances, the Cavalier goalie recording 13 saves. Then, just like the girls, the boys Northstars would win on the weekend, going to the southern tier on Saturday and putting together a 9-5 victory over Maine-Endwell. CNS had a 5-2 halftime lead, only to see Maine-Endwell rally and tie it, 5-5, before the Northstars took charge for good in the fourth quarter. Collins, with three goals, led the late push as Spenard added two goals. The boys Northstars go to Henninger Tuesday before hosting Nottingham Thursday night. CNS’s girls side is home all week, first to play the combined Henninger/Nottingham squad Tuesday, then to play Auburn two nights later.