Having gone through a series of early-season tests, the East Syracuse Minoa field hockey team has emerged from them with a better sense of its own capabilities.
Already, the Spartans had toppled long-time nemesis Cazenovia, but last Monday afternoon it again beat a more established opponent, this time defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Spartan Stadium.
Most of the first half went without a goal, but Gillianne McCarthy changed that by converting off a feed from Grace Stone 3:30 before intermission.
Early in the second half, the Warriors pulled even thanks to Danielle Wilson’s goal. But with 18:30 left, McCarthy struck again, slipping it past Abbie Brogan with what proved to be the game-winner.
This was ESM’s fourth win in a row, and it looked to extend that streak to five on Wednesday as it visited its fellow Spartans from New Hartford and did, indeed, prevail in yet another 2-1 match.
Attacking from the outset, ESM needed just five minutes to go in front as, again, McCarthy converted, her ninth goal of the season, and it would stay that way for a while, New Hartford goalie Rebekah Stolo keeping her team in it by getting 18 saves overall.
With 13 minutes left, ESM doubled the margin, with Stone, who had assisted on McCarthy’s goal, finding the net. That was needed, since Hagne Morris converted for New Hartford late in regulation, but ESM held on.
Fayetteville-Manlius sported a 5-1 record as it ventured to Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium Thursday night to challenge defending Section III Class A champion Baldwinsville.
A day earlier, F-M had scraped out a tough 1-0 win at Canastota, dominating the flow of play but constantly stymied by Raiders goalie Leanne Hannan, who was spectacular with 29 saves, only allowing Hannah Hall’s second-half goal.
Now the Hornets and Bees went at it, but only after working together to sing the national anthem when the recording of it at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium did not work.
Even at the start, F-M and B’ville would stay there throughout 60 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, neither side getting a goal in a 0-0 draw. Hornets goalie Catherine Barr turned back all 12 shots she faced, with Bees counterpart Hailey Boda getting seven saves.
Saturday’s game with Whitesboro would bring F-M to the midway point of the regular season, and it beat the Warriors for the second time this season in a 3-0 decision.
A week earlier, F-M had topped Whitesboro in the final of the Warriors’ own tournament. Now it put together a 25-shot attack and converted with goals by Sarah Beeler, Lucy Fowler and Liberty Clarke.
And it doesn’t let up since F-M (6-1-1) plays three times in a four-day span this week, hosting Cicero-North Syracuse Tuesday and Cazenovia on Friday, with a trip to Vernon-Verona-Sherrill in between.
Amid a stretch of five straight home games, ESM would welcome Auburn to Spartan Stadium Monday and then, on Wednesday, have its own chance to take down Baldwinsville.
