Through the ups and downs of its opening stretch, the Fayetteville-Manlius field hockey team knew that its only important measure was against the CNY Counties League and Section III Class A rivals it bested a season ago.

So when the Hornets went to Liverpool last Wednesday night, it was an important league opener – and F-M won it, enduring more back-and-forth play, but still prevailing, 3-2, over the Warriors.

Just like F-M, Liverpool had seen a long-time coach depart, Kim Dominick stepping aside after 20 seasons and 10 sectional Class A titles. Nicole Charles was the new head coach, and Liverpool had handled Rome Free Academy 7-2 in its Sept. 3 opener.

Despite defensive lapses, F-M would take the lead in the late going against the Warriors. Lindsey Kilpatrick led the attack, netting one goal and one assist. Sophie Craig and Campbell Kennedy also found the net, and though Liverpool got goals from Nicole Wilson and Claire Gaynor, Catherine Barr still made five saves.

East Syracuse Minoa, in search of its first win of the season, found it at Homer on Sept. 2, surviving a tense, back-and-forth second half to get past the Trojans in another 3-2 decision.

Early in the first half, the Spartans went in front on Emma Schaefer’s goal. It stayed 1-0 until the early portions of the second half, when Sami Wysocki’s pass set up Kassandra Burr’s goal that doubled the margin.

Homer didn’t go away, though, as Rachel Osterhoudt twice put shots past Spartans goalie Kory Palmer in short order. Absorbing all this, ESM regained the lead midway through the second half on Leah Brennan’s goal and hung on from there with solid defense down the stretch.

The Spartans’ home opener took place last Wednesday night, against Cortland, and ESM made it back-to-back wins, blanking the Purple Tigers 3-0.

Gillianne McCarthy’s first-half goal got the Spartans out in front, but it had to stayed patient thanks to the work of Cortland goalie Lexi Walts, who would finish the night with 26 saves. Not until McCarthy assisted on Lindsey Russell’s goal could ESM earn a cushion, and Cara Miller got the third goal, assisted by Emma Conte.

Then ESM visited Cato-Meridian on Friday afternoon, and pulled out a tough 2-1 victory over the Blue Devils. Goals by Emma Schafer and Gillianne McCarthy helped the Spartans overcome 11 saves by Cato goalie Bayleigh White, plus a tally from Courtney LaForce.

The win improved ESM’s record to 3-1 as it hosted Weedsport on Monday night, the Spartans returning to the road Thursday to face Port Byron.