CORTLAND – From modest beginnings in 2022, the Fayetteville-Manlius girls lacrosse team had grown into a championship unit, capable of taking the best effort that most opponents threw at them.
What the Hornets found out, though, in Friday’s state Class B semifinal at SUNY-Cortland was that Victor, the Section V champions, was quite more than just an ordinary opponent.
Effort, intensity and attitude were never a problem for F-M – but the Blue Devils were, utilizing its skill and depth to prevail 15-7 as the Hornets, making its third appearance in the last four state final fours, again fell short of the ultimate prize it earned in Class A back in 2004 and ’05.
Victor, the Section V champions, overwhelmed the Hornets with its skill and depth, leading to a 15-7 defeat as F-M, making its third appearance in the last four state final fours, again fell short of the ultimate prize it earned in Class A back in 2004 and ’05.
So much in this game hinged on how Ava Angello did in the center circle, and she held her own early, splitting the first four draws and, with a goal and assist, forging a 2-2 tie.
The Blue Devils’ all-round skill quickly took over, though. In a span of less than five minutes, Victor put up five unanswered goals, taking a lead it would not relinquish.
F-M’s issue was that every time it made a mistake, the Blue Devils pounced on the ball and, using its speed, depth and athleticism, wore down the Hornets’ defense.
To its credit, the Hornets played on even terms the rest of the first half following that Victor surge. Angello reached the 100-goal mark for the season and then added a 101st tally in the last seconds, cutting the Blue Devils’ edge to 10-5 at the break.
Any chance at a bigger comeback dissipated, though, when F-M couldn’t convert on long possessions early in the second half and Victor, with goals by Olivia Bruno and Amber DeRosa, stretched its margin out to 12-5.
Not until Angello converted with 14:50 left did the Hornets get on the board in the second half. Both Angello and Julianna Cogliandro picked up hat tricks, but F-M never was able to string together consecutive goals.
Grace Reyna picked up a pair of assists, with Melanie Steigerwald adding a single assist. Hannah Williamson, in goal, recorded four saves.
Victor, who went on to beat Queensbury 14-5 in Saturday’s final for its first-ever state championship, was led by Eva Pronti’s four goals and four assists. Devin Livingston also scored four times, with Maddison Mabbett adding three goals and one assist.
