It only figured that the Fayetteville-Manlius field hockey team would include its neighbors from East Syracuse Minoa as part of the season-opening F-M Field Hockey Classic.
The Hornets and Spartans clashed as the tail end of a first-round doubleheader, with F-M pulling it out by a 1-0 margin in overtime after Cortland prevailed over Little Falls by that exact same score in double OT.
For 60 minutes of regulation, the Hornets and Spartans remained scoreless. F-M had most of the opportunities, but kept getting turned back as ESM goalie Lucy Hager recorded seven saves.
Not until it went to a seven-on-seven OT period that it got settled, the Hornets solving Hager as Susan Bansbach picked up the game-winning goal.
Just before that, Cortland and Little Falls engaged in their own scoreless marathon, and one OT wasn’t enough. It required a second extra period that the Purple Tigers’ Rachel Kline settled with a goal assisted by Megan Harrington that overcame the 13 saves by Mounties goalie Mackenzie Harrington.
The finals on Aug. 31 pitted F-M against Cortland, and nothing beyond regulation was required as the Hornets rolled to a 3-0 victory over the Purple Tigers.
Earlier, ESM got in the win column by claiming the consolation game 2-1 over Little Falls.
Both Spartans goals came in the first half, one each by Gillianne McCarthy and Grace Stone, with Natalia Purchiaroni earning an assist. Little Falls got within one thanks to Lindsey Slaboc’s second-half goal, but ESM held on, Hager finishing with four saves.
Then ESM was off until Thursday’s visit from Cazenovia, a team that, in years past, had picked on the Spartans – but not on this day as a well-timed goal before halftime turned it all around and ESM handled the Lakers 4-1.
Lily Sorbello’s goal had Cazenovia in front 1-0 when, 38 seconds before halftime, Stone pushed a shot past goalie Shea Flannery, the Spartans finally capitalizing on its many chances.
With newfound confidence, ESM broke in front early in the second half with McCarthy’s goal. With 7:57 left, Angelina Dodge gained a crucial insurance goal, and less than five minutes later McCarthy converted again.
ESM continued to roll Saturday, blanking Auburn 4-0 with a first-half barrage that included a McCarthy hat trick. Dodge also scored, with assists credited to Purchiaroni, Olivia Grabowski and Holly Carr.
F-M got its own big test last Wednesday at Bragman Stadium, when it met Cicero-North Syracuse, a team that had opened the week before by scoring 12 goals against Vernon-Verona-Sherrill.
And the Hornets nearly got a key league win, only to get caught and take a 2-1 overtime defeat to the Northstars.
During the first half, both sides had opportunities, but only Maddy Duggleby scored, giving F-M 1-0 edge. That held up until Jamie Wagner converted in the second half, tying the game for C-NS.
Catherine Barr, in goal for the Hornets, made six saves, and her fellow F-M defenders did a terrific job against 10 different penalty corners. But in seven-on-seven OT play, Wagner flashed open again and flung a shot past Barr to help the Northstars prevail.
Then F-M went to the Whitesboro Invitational, where in Friday’s opening round it topped Little Falls 4-0, earning a trip to Saturday’s final, where it claimed the trophy by knocking off host Whitesboro 3-1.
This left the Hornets at 4-1 as it would face defending sectional Class A champion Baldwinsville Thursday right after traveling to Canastota Wednesday and before a Saturday rematch with Whitesboro. ESM would face Liverpool and New Hartford early this week.
