The last time the Fayetteville-Manlius field hockey team had seen Baldwinsville, it had the unfortunate experience of dropping the Section III Class A championship match to the Bees on the Hornets’ own home turf.
Now, on that same field, but with slightly lesser stakes, F-M again challenged B’ville last Wednesday afternoon, and the match came down to the Hornets proving unable to contain Bees forward Amanda Strenk in a 4-1 defeat.
Strenk struck in the first half and helped the Bees build a 2-0 advantage. Though Avery Moses put F-M on the board in the second half with a goal assisted by Paige Freyer, the Bees pulled further away as Strenk gained a three-goal hat trick and Mary Cate McKee earned the other goal. Hornets goalie Catherine Barr made nine saves.
East Syracuse Minoa, who had lost to B’ville 8-2 the week before F-M dealt with the Bees, faced another Class A opponent last Monday when it traveled to Bragman Stadium and lost a 3-0 decision to Cicero-North Syracuse.
A pair of first-half goals put the Northstars in control, and only the great work of Spartans goalie Cory Palmer kept it from getting further out of hand as she recorded 18 saves. Jamie Snyder had two of C-NS’s three goals, with Allie Bartlett earning the other.
Two nights later, the Spartans had to deal with undefeated Rome Free Academy, and for a half things were close before the Black Knights took over in the latter stages, ultimately handing ESM a 3-1 loss.
During the first half, the Spartans had many opportunities to move in front, only to have RFA goalie Maddison Cudhea kick them away as she would finish with eight saves.
Gillianne McCarthy did score in the second half, but that came amid a Black Knights barrage where Kate Mastracco, Madisynn Reilley and Hailey Millington would each take turns slapping shots past Palmer, who ended up with four saves.
ESM was back on the field again at Auburn on Thursday, and had to be patient to beat the Maroons 2-0. Auburn goalie Lauren Durpree made 16 saves and kept the game 0-0 until the second half, when McCarthy and Emma Schafer both put in goals, Lindsey Russell getting credit for an assist.
Then the Spartans took on Port Byron Saturday afternoon, its fourth game in six days, but the crowded schedule did not wear ESM down as it put away the Panthers 4-1.
Russell led the way, notching a goal and earning two assists as the Spartans led 2-0 by halftime and never let Port Byron get close. Schafer, Emily Hunter and Grace Stone also put in goals, with McCarthy contributing an assist.
F-M was back in action Saturday, too, and also earned a victory, too, shutting out Whitesboro 3-0 on the Hornets’ home turf. Sarah Beehler had a breakthrough performance, not only scoring a goal, but assisting on each of Lindsey Kilpatrick’s scoring plays. Susan Bansbach also had an assist.
Other than a game with Auburn on Monday, the Hornets get to rest most of this week, and ESM does so, too, only visiting Whitesboro Wednesday night.
