With a spectacular finishing kick, the Fayetteville-Manlius ice hockey team moved itself into the Section III Division I playoffs and might even host a post-season game, too.
The Hornets’ 4-3, come-from-behind victory over Baldwinsville Friday night at Lysander pushed F-M into second place in Division I West, with 13 points, one ahead of Solvay and Corcoran and two points clear of the Bees.
Since the Hornets are to meet state no. 1-ranked West Genesee (19-0) this Friday at Cicero Twin Rinks to close the regular season, it was imperative for F-M to get that win at B’ville. But it trailed 2-1 through two periods, victimized by the Bees’ Parker Ferrigan, who scored twice.
And Ferrigan would get a third goal for his hat trick in the final period, but that took place as F-M made up the deficit, pulling event, 3-3. Then, with 1:30 left in regulation, Trevor Chase, off a feed from Anthony Angello, pushed a shot past Bees goalie Corey Johns for what proved to be the game-winner.
That was Chase’s second goal of the night, as Angello earned a second assist to go with a goal of his own. Dante Capriotti got the other goal and Alex Ferrara matched Angello with two assists. Ben Napierala, in goal, had 22 saves.
F-M also helped itself last Wednesday by beating Cortland-Homer 5-2 at Cicero Twin Rinks.
The Hornets gained a quick 2-0 edge in the first period, but stalled out for a while. Then, in the third period, the Golden Eagles got on the board – but F-M countered with three goals to stay out in front.
Angello proved tough to stop, scoring four times and assisting on the other goal, by Cooper Holick. Chase added a pair of assists as Napierala made 30 saves.
As this went on, a good string of late-season play erased any doubts over whether the CBA/J-D ice hockey team was going to make the sectional Division II playoffs.
Hosting Whitesboro last Tuesday night at Onondaga Nation Arena, the Brothers steadily got away from the Warriors, prevailing by a 4-1 margin.
Strong defense helped push CBA/J-D out in front, 2-0, through two periods, and it added to the margin in the late going behind Brendan Flanagan, who put together a three-goal hat trick.
Often, the passes came from Scott Firman, who managed three assists. Nick Papayanakos had the other goal as Ryan Durkin earned two assists. In the net, Tim Decker recorded 17 saves.
Still at home Friday night, CBA/J-D had a chance to affect sixth-place Clinton’s playoff hopes, but could not quite pull it off as the two sides played to a 2-2 tie.
Though the Brothers could not hold on to an early 1-0 lead as Clinton tied it the second period, it did score in the third period to match the Warriors’ tally. Then both sides went through OT without a decision.
Decker was spectacular in the net, stopping 40 of 42 shots he faced. Papayanakos and Durkin earned the Brothers’ goals, with Firman and Lucas Relkin adding the assists. Clinton’s Luke Lauchert had one goal and assisted on the other, by Ryan Perry.
Where CBA/J-D ends up positioned for the playoffs likely hinges on Saturday’s regular-season finale at Skaneateles, which follows a non-league game Tuesday at Ithaca.
