The Fayetteville-Manlius varsity hockey team traveled to the Three Rivers Athletic Complex to face the Baldwinsville Bees on Tuesday night and came out with a 3-0 win.
Last year, the boys lost 2-1 to Baldwinsville with a goal from Connor McDonald. They avenged themselves Tuesday night. The Hornets were not predicted to win, but they defied all the odds. They played their game and came out on top.
The boys started off the first period a little shaky. Their passes were not connecting like they hoped. However, they kept their defense tight, keeping the puck in the Bees end and having possession of the puck for the majority of the first. With a couple mistakes here and there, this helped them get to the strong team they turned out to be. But they put a lot of pressure on the Bees goalie, Nathan Sotherden, and his defense. The Hornets took many shots on goal, but unfortunately could not find the back of the net. They kept passing and shooting, even coming close multiple times. Finally, sophomore Grayson Mucha connected with the puck, assisted by senior Brady Moore and senior Joey Leveroni, to put the Hornets up 1-0 with 4:42 remaining in the first. Scoring that first goal was a big energy boost for the fans and the team after their loss against the Syracuse Cougars last Thursday night in the valley. It was exactly what they needed going into this game.
Going into the second, the energy was high and the boys were feeling confident. They started the second way better than they did in the first. The passes looked cleaner and they looked more put together. The Hornets have been struggling to find a practice time that works for them. Losing their home rink, the Toyota Coliseum, the boys have had many late night practices hopping from rink to rink. But, the hard work they have put in, even at 10 pm, really showed in the second period. The wingers did a good job of centering the puck for one timers. Again, the Hornets had many opportunities with this play and did not connect. But senior captain Joey Leveroni stepped up and buried the puck in the back of the goal, assisted by senior Walker Thompson and junior Gavin Patnode, to put the Hornets up 2-0 with 7:47 left in the second. This goal set the game into place, and the Bees knew they were going to have to fight hard. The Hornets knew that the only direction they could go in was forward.
In the third period the Bees put a lot of pressure on the Hornets goalie, Chris Finger. Yet, he gave Baldwinville a tough time and came out big. He really stepped up and put this game over the edge. The team’s aim for the game was three goals, set by Coach Wizz. Going into the third, they knew that they needed a third goal to truly seal the deal. Freshman Tyler Mayne knew that too. Baldwinsville gave Mayne an open shot from the blue line, and that guaranteed the Hornets win. Tyler scored with 12:21 left in the third, assisted by senior Walker Thompson and junior Nico Capriotti, to put the Hornets up 3-0. For the rest of the game, Chris Finger and the rest of the Hornets continued to show that they were not going to let up. Finger saved 36/36 shots on goal and the Bees did not even come close to hitting the back of the net. The defense played tight and sharp, knowing Chris would get a shutout, and he did. This was Chris’s first shutout of the year, and if the Hornets keep playing like they did Tuesday night, it will not be his last.
The boys travel to Camillus next Tuesday to face the toughest competition of the season, the West Genesee Wildcats. Be sure to come out to a game and support your very own Hornets hockey team!
