Earlier this month, the Fayetteville-Manlius field hockey took what appeared to be a gigantic leap toward the top of the Class A ranks when it knocked off defending champion Liverpool on the Warriors’ home turf.
But the Hornets could not repeat that feat in last Monday night’s rematch on its own turf, as Liverpool, starting to get on a roll again, prevailed by a 2-0 margin.
Both sides had difficulty getting good scoring chances. F-M only took three shots, all kicked away, but the Warriors converted once in each half to move out in front.
Emily Burns led the way for Liverpool. With all the defensive attention given to Emma Lamison, Burns twice gained assists as Morgan Thomas and Marissa Penge earned the goals.
In a non-league game against Weedsport on Thursday night, F-M won, by that same 2-0 margin, as once again the game involved a single tally in each half.
Only this time, it was the Hornets finding the cage as Kayla O’Connor and Gabriela Gorgoni each converted, with Lindsey Trachtenberg and Kerry O’Connor picking up assists. F-M took 11 shots, to Weedsport’s two.
That was just the start of the Hornets’ busiest stretch of the season, which culminated with an appearance in the annual O’Connor Classic at Camden.
F-M was lined up against the hosts from Camden in Friday’s opening round. Totally ignoring the Blue Devils’ status as reigning Section III Class A champions, the Hornets knocked off the Blue Devils by a 3-2 margin.
They were tied, 1-1, at the half, but led by Kerry O’Connor’s pair of goals, the Hornets inched out in front in the late going, putting up a relentless attack that forced Camden goalie Emily Collins to make 23 saves. Erica Stube had one goal and one assist, with Trachtenberg gaining two assists.
In Saturday’s final, F-M took its shot at two-time defending state Class C champion Cazenovia, and got close to upending the Lakers, but settled for a 2-1 defeat.
Other than Gorgoni scoring in the second half off another timely feed from Trachtenberg, the Hornets never solved Cazenovia’s intricate defense, taking just five shots overall. Ashley Kent and Jessy Silfer put in the Lakers’ goals.
East Syracuse-Minoa, who lost to Cazenovia by that same 2-1 margin in overtime earlier in September, was back in action last Wednesday, taking on Port Byron, and early-game production led to a victory over the Panthers, again by a 2-1 margin.
Amy Loder and Judi Neff both scored in the first half, with Stephanie Edmonds adding an assist. That counteracted the goal from Port Byron’s Noel Smith, who converted off a feed from Alyssa Gray.
Mostly, the Spartans used ball control to prevent the Panthers from pulling even in the second half, limiting the visitors to three shots overall. Only the work of Port Byron goalie Amanda Lupo (10 saves) kept it close.
ESM won yet another 2-1 decision on Saturday, this one over Whitesboro. Moving ahead 1-0 by halftime, the Spartans matched the Warriors’ late goal as Loder and Melissa Koch both would find the net. Sadie Zacharek got credit for an assist.
