Each of the Fayetteville-Manlius and East Syracuse Minoa field hockey teams would have their own encounters with the Baldwinsville Bees during last week’s action, with various results.
In the Hornets’ case, it took a 10-1-1 record into its match with the Bees and, once again, found it to be stressful, F-M able to escape with its defense and just enough to production to win 1-0.
When these teams had first met Sept. 16 at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, it went to overtime and F-M pulled it out 2-1. Nearly a month later, it again was difficult for the two sides to separate.
The flow of play was relatively even, each side ending up with a handful of direct looks. B’ville could not get any of its four shots home, but F-M did so thanks to a single goal from Avery Moses.
Otherwise, Smiley turned everything back and finished with five saves, but none of the Bees’ four shots were able to get past Hornets goalie Claire Grenis.
For the most part, ESM had held its own against Salt City Athletic Conference competition this fall, and last Tuesday’s match at B’ville further proved that point.
However, the Spartans lost, 3-2, to the Bees, not quite able to overcome a slow start as B’ville, led by Emma Brushingham (who scored twice), grabbed a 2-0 halftime advantage.
Fighting back, ESM saw Rileigh White and Angelina Dodge earn unassisted goals in the second half, and it had all kinds of chances for more, only to get turned away as Bees goalie Sara Smiley had 13 saves. Maura Leib had seven saves.
Two nights later, the Spartans were back home, facing a Cazenovia side that blanked Liverpool 2-0 earlier in the week. Here, the Spartans would not get beat, but have to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Lakers.
During the first half, ESM fell behind thanks to a goal from Cazeonvia’s Peyton Clarke, assisted by Ava Hartley. But the Spartans pulled even in the second half as Olivia Grabowski converted.
ESM controlled the flow of play through most of the night and in the six-on-six overtime period. Only the splendid work of Lakers goalie Mackenzie Halliday, who had nine saves, kept it even.
In Saturday’s regular-season finale against New Hartford, ESM looked to improve to 9-3-4 and had no problem doing so, getting away from those other Spartans in a 7-0 romp.
Grace Stone’s pair of goals led a well-balanced ESM attack. Dodge, White, Maggie Saunders, Lauren Miller and Kodi Smith each found the net, too, with Dodge and Mary Searle earning assists.
Though the Spartans’ regular season is done, F-M, starting on Wednesday, plays three times in four days, all of them at home, with Cazenovia in the middle after the Hornets faced Cortland and before a match against Canastota.
