CENTRAL NEW YORK – Though it had dropped a 2-1 decision to Skaneateles in its Nov. 24 season opener, the Fayetteville-Manlius ice hockey team left Allyn Arena with a lot more confidence than before.

Holding its own most of the way against the reigning state Division II champions had to make the Hornets believe that it could win plenty of games – which it started to do the next time it was in game action.

F-M prevailed last Wednesday over Auburn 5-2, doing so at the Cicero Twin Rinks facility it will need to use as a home ice this winter since the State Fair Coliseum was not available.

Never trailing, the Hornets built upon a 1-0 first-period lead thanks to two goals from Joey Leveroni and two assists from Noah Chen and Walker Thomson. Drew Mayne and Brian Tonkovich each had one goal and one assist, with Nico Capriotti also finding the net

Two games in Cortland would follow on the weekend, F-M moving its own “Hornet Pride” tournament to the McDonald Sports Complex after finding out that it could not play at State Fair Coliseum for this season.

In the Friday opening round, the Hornets defeated Thousand Islands 3-2 in a back-and-forth battle where it trailed, 1-0, through one period before Will Sanzone and Noah Chen notched second-period goals.

Owen Bismarck, who had Thousand Islands’ first goals, struck again to tie it, 2-2, and it looked like it would head to overtime that way until Capriotti, with just 12 seconds left, emerged from a scramble to put home the game-winning goal.

Now F-M would face Section II’s Bethlehem on Saturday afternoon. Again, it proved dramatic, and it would go to overtime – and again the Hornets prevailed, topping the Eagles 5-4.

F-M had led 3-1 through one period, only to have Bethlehem pull even in the second and then go up 4-3 midway through the third period.

Not giving up, the Hornets pressured and, with 1:24 left in regulation, Sanzone pushed into the tying goal. Carrying all the momentum, F-M went to overtime and won as Thomson converted the game-winner.

Gavin Patnode, held scoreless throughout the week, converted twice here, with Chen getting a goal and two assists. Sanzone and Thomson each finished with one goal and one assist as Connor McDonald notched two assists and Capriotti a single assist. In goal, Sean LaMarche recorded 24 saves.

Expected to challenge Skaneateles in Division II, Christian Brothers Academy/Jamesville-DeWitt got off to a dominant start last Thursday night when it routed Cazenovia 9-2 at Onondaga Nation Arena.

Three different Brothers – Quinn Wimer, James Stanton and Grady Shanley – each scored twice, with Logan Novak getting a goal and two assists. Gavin Dunford also had a pair of assists as Jack Dement and Ryan Hayden converted goals. Single assists were credited to Jacob Dubrey and Charlie Letourneau.

CBA/J-D would take on Syracuse and Auburn this week as F-M would have its own game against the Cougars at Meachem Rink Thursday night.