From March to June, from opening face-off until the final shot went in the net, the Fayetteville-Manlius boys lacrosse team played its entire 2016 season careening between the joy of pulling out a close decision and the agony of seeing another close decision go the other way.
It only figured that the post-season would go that way. The Hornets needed goals late in regulation to take out West Genesee and Baldwinsville to earn its second Section III title in three years, and more drama followed in Saturday night’s regional final against Section IV champion Corning at Vestal High School.
Taking a three-goal lead to the fourth quarter, F-M lost it, went back in front and got caught again, all leading to overtime, where one stop, one mistake and one shot made the difference for the Hawks as it edged the Hornets 11-10.
Having combined from the former Corning East and Corning West programs, the combined Corning Hawks were just as eager as F-M to get out of the regional round and take its chances against state no. 1-ranked Victor in Wednesday’s state semifinal at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Bragman Stadium.
They went through a first quarter where, three times, the Hornets took the lead, on goals by Ryan Cicci, Luke Hamel and Donovan Welsh, only to have the Hawks answer with goals on every occasion, one seconds after the face-off following Hamel’s tally.
By contrast, much of the second period was a standoff, full of strong defensive stops. Not until Corning’s Aidan Olmstead converted with 18 seconds left in the half off a feed from Caleb Donegan did anyone find the net, and though F-M was blanked for the last 16-plus minutes, it only trailed 4-3 at the break.
Eager to turn it around, F-M did so – at least for most of the third quarter.
Cicci netted his second goal in the opening seconds and Dan Burnam converted two minutes later. Burnam returned to feed Welsh for a goal, and Welsh, who hit the game-winner against B’ville in the sectional final, hit again late in the period following Hamel’s second goal.
When Mac Fish scored with 1:33 left in the third period, F-M had a 9-5 lead. Then the Hornets thought it had a goal to get to 10-5 – but it was disallowed, and instead the Hawks converted right before the quarter ended.
Instead of a five-goal margin, it was three, 9-6, and Corning, suddenly energized, spent the majority of the final period in F-M’s end, stretching out the defense and putting in three straight goals that tied it again, 9-9, with Donegan putting in the equalizer.
Finally, the Hornets’ defense settled down, and more late-game magic appeared in store when James Rettinger scored with 1:47 left. But Corning won the ensuing face-off and, 38 seconds later, they were even again, 10-10, thanks to Jake McNaney’s goal, and the Hawks claiming the ensuing face-off.
After taking a time-out, Corning worked the ball around, and tried to win it as the regulation clock wound down – but did not so, leading the two sides to overtime, where the Hornets had gone four times this spring. It was the 11th time an F-M game this season would get decided by a single goal.
Tommy Ryu won the OT face-off, and F-M took a time-out. It worked the ball around, but Corning made the big stop, regained possession and called a time-out just as F-M committed a costly penalty.
With a man-up situation, Corning worked it the left side, where Donegan, at the 3:04 mark, charged in and put the shot past Ryan Boshart to end the game. It was Donegan’s third goal, matching that of Olmstead, who picked up four assists to overcome Boshart’s 12 saves.
