ONONDAGA COUNTY – No stretch of the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team’s season offered a challenge quite like the three games it faced during the last six day of April.
The Bees not only had game against two of its neighbors and rivals, it would also face Section V power Pittsford, perhaps offering a state tournament preview in the process.
At the heart of the run was last Thursday’s rematch with Cicero-North Syracuse, whom it beat 12-5 on April 12 at Bragman Stadium in their first encounter since last June’s double-overtime sectional Class A final.
Now on the home turf at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, B’ville had to go through a different process – but reached the same outcome, a win by a seven-goal margin, this time 13-6.
C-NS, at least in the first half, kept the Bees from anything close to the blizzard of goals late in the first half which defined that initial meeting.
Only leading 7-5 at the break, B’ville started dominating at the draw circle thanks to Pozzi and Sophia Ianno, leading to extra possessions and a gradual erosion of the Northstars’ defenses.
Pozzi poured in five goals, while Carlie Desimone scored three times and got three assists. Sopiha Muscolino had two goals and two assists Brianna Peters also earning a goal and Grace Hollenbeck getting an assist. Sam Tanguay stopped 10 of the 16 shots the Northstars threw at her.
It all started by playing Liverpool last Tuesday at LHS Stadium, a game that turned into a total showcase for B’ville’s attack as it blew out the Warriors 24-7.
On the way to the big margin, two different Bees hit double figures in points, Pozzi netting eight goals and getting two assists as Desimone handed out eight assists to go with her hat trick.
Muscolino chimed in with three goals and five assists, while Grace Hollnebeck had four goals and one assist. Ava Graham scored three times and Emma Hollenbeck converted twice as Alexis Zalla had a goal and two assists. Sara Hunter and Caitlin Sacco had one assist apiece, Hunter adding a goal.
And this set up Saturday’s showdown with Pittsford, a game that would feature long possessions and plenty of defense -and see the Bees fall 6-4 to the Panthers.
Each half had the same score line, Pittsford inching in front 3-2 by intermission. They stayed that way for the early potion of the second half, too, before B’ville tied it 3-3.
From there, though, the Bees netted just one more goal, Pittsford going in front to stay as only Pozzi, with two goals, found the net more than once for the hosts. Desimone and Grace Hollenbeck had the other goals, with Emma Hollenbeck contributing an assist.
Three tough road games await B’ville this week as it travels to West Genesee Tuesday, Christian Brothers Academy Thursday and west to face Brighton on Friday night.
