BALDWINSVILLE – Above anything else, what the Baldwinsville field hockey team wanted to do was keep playing until the last weekend of October.
To do so, the Bees had to accomplish what it had already done twice in 2024 – beat Fayetteville-Manlius – but were denied the third time in a 2-1 loss to the Hornets in Wednesday’s opening round of the Section III Class A playoffs.
They played this game at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium largely because B’ville had got the best of F-M in those 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 victory in the rematch at Hornet Stadium two weeks after the first meeting, helped the Bees to the no. 4 seed, with the knowledge that topping F-M again would mean a trip to the semifinals on Sunday against top seed Rome Free Academy 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 having netted one goal and assisted on Lauren Hills’ tally.
Finishing its season at 8-9, B’ville will see eight seniors graduate, including the likes of Kelly Nadzan, Leah Kalil, Kate Rinn and Chloe Butler, but return Mantione and many other starters for 2025.
