As they gathered on Saturday at Swan Pond for the ‘Red Out’ games to benefit the American Heart Association, the Fayetteville-Manlius and Christian Brothers Academy girls soccer teams were finding that they both have a bit heart to show.
The Hornets, who had struggled through much of the early portion of the season, registered its best win so far in 2016 last Thursday night when it took out the West Genesee Wildcats by a score of 3-1.
Granted, WG, who had started the season 7-1, was struggling and had lost to Liverpool and Rome Free Academy earlier in the week. But it had still beaten F-M 6-2 back on Sept. 13, and with a 2-6-1 mark, the Hornets weren’t expected to make a drastic turnaround, even though it had played Victor to a 3-3 draw in its last game on Sept. 24.
Yet it still happened, F-M grabbing a 2-1 edge by halftime and then spending the second half playing superb defense in front of Sabrina Suriani, who earned six saves. Goals went to Hannah Knych, Ashley Carter and Anna Hartzheim, with Cady Barns and Rachel Dabroski earning assists.
Meanwhile, CBA tried to recover Wednesday night against visiting Central Square, and pulled out a 1-0 decision, the game staying scoreless until Katy Stanard netted an unassisted goal in the second half, the only shot Redhawks goalie Quinn Staats (who had 10 saves) let past her. Catherine Burns had four saves to earn the shutout.
Thus, both CBA and F-M had wins entering their head-to-head clash at Swan Pond, and that proved a close game, too, but the Hornets would pull it out by a 2-1 margin.
Tate Kohlbrenner put the Brothers on the board in the first half with an unassisted goal. F-M matched it, so it was tied, 1-1, until the Hornets pulled in front late in regulation, having seen Barns and Ashley Carter net the goals and Hartzheim pick up an assist to overcome 10 saves by Burns. Suriani had five saves.
At 4-6-1 on the season, F-M still needed to step up in tough games this week against Class AA favorites Baldwinsville and Liverpool as CBA, with a 5-4-2 mark, goes to Chittenango Tuesday before hosting Cortland two nights later.
