CENTRAL NEW YORK – All season long the Fayetteville-Manlius field hockey team had chased Baldwinsville, and finally managed to catch them when it counted the most.
The no. 5 seed Hornets went to Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium Wednesday afternoon and, coming from behind, defeated the no. 4 seed Bees 2-1 in the opening round of the Section III Class A playoffs.
They played this game at B’ville largely because the Bees had got the best of F-M in two previous encounters, including another 2-1 decision in September decided by Abigail Mantione’s game-winning goal in overtime.
This, along with a 3-2 decision in the rematch at Hornet Stadium two weeks after the first meeting, meant that F-M would have to turn those results around if it wanted to face top seed Rome Free Academy in Sunday’s semifinal at Camden High School.
It didn’t take long for B’ville to move out in front as Mantione again foiled Hornets goalie Emma Dobrovech in the first quarter to earn her 15th goal of the season.
Yet that was all the Bees could produce, despite constant pressure and holding most of the possession. Every other B’ville shot got turned back, Dobrovech eventually earning nine saves.
Meanwhile, F-M pulled even, 1-1, and patiently waited for another chance until the fourth quarter, when it broke the tie and stayed out in front.
Carlye Bryant again was the focal point of the attack, netting her 23rd goal of the season and also getting her 12th assist of the fall when Lauren Hills converted.
This would prove to be F-M’s last win of the season, though, as it ran right into RFA Sunday and lost 9-0 to the Black Knights, who will face Cicero-North Syracuse in the title game after the Northstars survived penalty strokes to edge Liverpool in the other semifinal.
RFA scored three times in each of the first two quarters and kept adding to the margin, led by Izzy McMahon’s three goals and two assists. Alexa Thompson and Cara Mecca added two goals apiece as the Hornets’ season concluded at 7-10-1.
Holding the no. 6 seed, ESM would quickly find itself behind in this clash of Spartans sides despite Lydia Butterfield breaking through for an unassisted first-quarter goal.
New Hartford, the no. 3 seed, built a 4-1 advantage by halftime and pulled further away late, led by Alexis Penree’s two goals and two assists as it advanced to face no. 2 seed Vernon-Verona-Sherrill in the semifinals and ESM concluded its season at 1-15-1.
