One side needed to go to overtime. Another had to go across town. And the third needed to go to the north country. No matter how it was done, though, the fact remains that Cicero-North Syracuse’s field hockey and soccer teams will play into November, thanks to a sweep of Thursday night’s Section III playoff contests. In an overtime drama at Bragman Stadium, the field hockey Northstars defeated Fayetteville-Manilus 1-0, advancing to meet top seed and defending champion Rome Free Academy in next Tuesday night’s semifinal round at Morrisville State College. For 60 minutes of regulation, neither CNS nor F-M could break the deadlock. Both teams had equal numbers of chances to move head, but could not pull it off as Northstars goalie Meghan Wiacek made seven saves, the same number as Hornets counterpart Abby Cunningham. So it went to a 10-minute, sudden-victory period where the teams go seven-on-seven, opening up the field. With 1:57 left in the extra period, the Northstars won it, Maggie Kennedy nabbing the unassisted goal to send CNS to its meeting with RFA. Looking to get back on top, each of the CNS soccer teams had to meet Watertown in the Class AA quarterfinals – and each of them would win, the boys in a 3-0 “home” shutout, the girls going north to beat the female version of the Cyclones 3-1. With its normal field behind Gillette Road Middle School unplayable, the CNS boys moved its home game to where the girls normally play at Archie Hall Stadium, behind the North Syracuse Junior High School on Taft Road. Regardless of the location, though, the no. 3 seed Northstars would stay in firm control against no. 6 seed Watertown. Patience was needed, as CNS could only manage a 1-0 halftime lead. A pair of second-half tallies allowed for a getaway, and Josh Williams led it as he found the net twice, with defender Michael Kuss getting the other goal. Logan Roberts, Rob Spenard and Miles Crouse each had one assist, and the stingy Northstars defense held the Cyclones to just three shots all night. As this was going on, the CNS girls team, a no. 6 seed which had barely escaped its first-round game with Rome Free Academy (a 2-1 decision), had everything go right on Thursday, starting with its own successful trip to meet no. 3 seed Watertown. It didn’t start out smoothly, as Maureen Keggins scored in the first half to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead. But that CNS deficit vanished in the second half as it increased the tempo and, thanks to Rachel Bowles, turned the game around. All Bowles did was put in two goals, plus assist on Reid Garner’s tally. Marissa Puma earned an assist on one of Bowles’ scoring plays, and Miranda Tanner stopped everything she faced in the late going on her way to six saves. CNS then found out that no. 2 seed and defending champion CBA got stunned at home by Fayetteville-Manlius 1-0, a huge break. Instead of having to meet the Brothers, a team it lost to 6-1 on Oct. 21, the Northstars will face the Hornets, whom it beat 1-0 in their only regular-season encounter on Oct. 4.