Through 10 games, and through plenty of close calls, no one in 2019 had yet to top the Fayetteville-Manlius field hockey team, though East Syracuse Minoa did tie the Hornets 1-1 in a tense Sept. 20 classic.
Back on Wednesday night, F-M faced Liverpool, whom it beat Sept. 4 in overtime. Exactly three weeks later, the Hornets controlled matters and earned a 2-0 victory over the Warriors for the season sweep.
Patience paid off for F-M as goals by Lucy Fowler and Stephanie Drapas put the Hornets in front. Amanda Hibbard and Avery Moses earned assists.
ESM followed up its battle against F-M by playing Cortland to a 0-0 draw last Monday, this despite taking six shots to the Purple Tigers’ three and not converting any of them.
Then the Spartans hosted Cicero-North Syracuse last Wednesday night, and even with strong defense, it lost a 1-0 decision to the Northstars.
Hannah Boyle earned the game’s only goal for C-NS, assisted by Katie Thies, in the first half that. ESM had its fair share of opportunities to pull even throughout the latter stages, but the Northstars turned them away, Ally Wagner stopping all four shots she faced as Spartans goalie Maura Leib had five saves.
F-M’s lone game this week is a Wednesday-night trip to Bragman Stadium for its own battle with C-NS as ESM was home this week to take on Auburn and Liverpool.
