CENTRAL NEW YORK – As it went into the Section III Class A playoffs, all the Fayetteville-Manlius field hockey team wants is one more chance at an undefeated Cicero-North Syracuse side it battled twice in regular-season defeats.
First, though, the Hornets wanted to avenge a 1-0 defeat to Baldwinsville earlier in the month, and nearly did so, but had to take a 3-2 defeat to the Bees.
Unlike that initial meeting, F-M was able to break through against B’ville’s defense thanks to goals by Ella Herber and Madison Kirkpatrick, with Sarah Porter getting an assist.
The Bees countered as Julia Schultz was at the forefront, not only getting a goal, but assisting on both of her team’s other scoring plays as Bridget Roy and Abby Mantione converted.
Kaleigh Hamilton had 10 saves for the Hornets as her B’ville counterpart, Casey Gee, made sure her side stayed in front, earning 12 saves.
That same night, undefeated Cicero-North Syracuse was stunned 1-0 by Liverpool, the first loss the Northstars had taken this season against a sub-.500 Warriors side that needed to win just to qualify for the sectional playoffs.
F-M got tripped up again, though, in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Rome Free Academy. Alyssa Nardslico’s second-quarter goal held up for the Black Knights as Jaylene Decker stopped each of the Hornets’ six shots.
East Syracuse Minoa ran up against a possible post-season opponent, New Hartford, last Tuesday night and took a 4-0 loss to that other group of Spartans.
No one on ESM’s defense could contain New Hartford forward Ella Greico, who had three of her team’s four goals. Elise Courto had the other, and Emilee Clarey stopped all seven of ESM’s shots.
Turning this around on Friday, ESM beat Cortland by that same 4-0 margin, getting most of its offense in the first quarter due to the work of Alessandra Fernandez.
All that Fernandez did was notch a three-goal hat trick, with Sarah Steidelmann earning the other goal as she and Reilley Murphy both picked up assists.
Given the no. 3 seed in Class B for the sectional tournament, ESM would, indeed, get another chance at New Hartford, who holds the no. 2 seed as their sectional semifinal takes place Sunday at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill.
F-M, meanwhile, was the no. 4 seed in a six-team Class A bracket, meaning it would have to get past no. 5 seed Liverpool Wednesday to earn another shot at C-NS, the top seed, Sunday at VVS.
