CENTRAL NEW YORK – Each in their own way, field hockey teams from Fayetteville-Manlius and East Syracuse Minoa each had an urgency to find the win column.
In the Hornets’ case, it stemmed from non-league defeats like the 1-0 loss it took to Clinton on Sept. 22, not to mention the scare it put into reigning sectional Class A champion Cicero-North Syracuse in a 2-1 defeat back in late August.
When given another chance against the Northstars last Thursday night, it was not as close, C-NS striking early and continuing to add to its margin until it had pushed past F-M 6-1.
This was a game where the Hornets blanked C-NS in the first and third quarters and got a goal from Carlye Bryant, only to give up two in the second period and four in the fourth quarter as Nicole Conklin (three goals) and Ayvah Romano (two goals) did most of the Northstars’ damage.
As for ESM, any win would suffice – and the Spartans almost got it last Monday night against Auburn before a late comeback by the Maroons led to a 1-1 draw.
The Spartans had gone in front 1-0 in the opening period. With tight, consistent defense, it maintained that slim margin and frustrated Auburn before a late opportunity allowed the Maroons to tie it and force seven-on-seven overtime.
Neither side scored in the OT, so the Spartans were now winless in nine games, 0-7-2 overall, and that would not change Saturday as it fell 5-0 to New Hartford, who was led by Alexis Penree’s three-goal hat trick, all of it in the last three quarters.
This week’s games sees ESM take on Camden and Cortland, with F-M taking its 5-5 mark to Baldwinsville Monday before hosting Whitesboro and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill later in the week.
