A 1-1 start to the season showed the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team that it still had plenty of work to do, especially since the defeat came April 1 to defending state Class A champion West Genesee.
Following a split of two road games early in the week of the school break, a key early-season showdown took place Friday between the Bees and another Class A contender, Cicero-North Syracuse, and plenty of encouragement was found in this game, even though B’ville lost, 15-13, to the Northstars.
Essentially, the first half split into three parts. An exchange of goals in the first seven minutes produced a 3-3 tie, and then neither side converted for more than 10 minutes before C-NS appeared to take charge with four straight goals late in the half.
But the Bees fought back, with three straight goals, two of them from Taylor Gebhardt, that helped close the gap to 8-6 at halftime, and when Gebhardt converted again 1:22 into the second half, B’ville trailed by just one, 8-7.
Again, though, the Northstars put together a 4-0 run, two of the goals from Bryar Cummings, and eventually gained a 15-10 cushion that could not be erased, even though Johnson was spectacular down the stretch, scoring three goals in the last 1:37 of the contest to give her four for the day, augmenting Gebhardt’s total of five goals and two assists.
The week began on the road last Tuesday afternoon with a rough effort against Section I power Suffern, who handled B’ville 19-9.
Unlike some years, when B’ville would make a long-distance trip during the school break (it’s gone to California, Texas and Colorado, among other stops), B’ville kept the trip in state, but that didn’t make things easier, especially against Suffern.
The Mounties had a 9-4 edge by halftime, and then doubled that lead despite Gebhardt’s quartet of goals. Alex Leo scored twice, with Andrea Walker getting a goal and two assists.
Peyton Fleming added one goal and one assist as Kylee Scott got the other goal. Johnson and Sara Goodwin had single assists. Madeline Curtis and Paige Postalwait combined for nine saves.
A day later, taking on Saratoga Springs (Section II), the Bees did a complete turnaround, stopping the Blue Streaks 15-6. Most of the margin was built during a 9-2 first half where it seemed like B’ville had instantly corrected all that had gone wrong the day before.
Gebhardt again scored four goals, this time adding a pair of assists and getting a lot more help from, among others, Maria Henwood, who notched a three-goal hat trick.
Walker also had three goals, adding two assists as Johnson managed two goals and one assist. Goodwin and Marjorie Dehm both had one goal and one assist, with Alex Leo nabbing the other goal. Fleming contributed an assist.
Following the loss to C-NS, B’ville has its home opener Tuesday against Fayetteville-Manlius, and then hosts a Section V opponent, Penfield, on Saturday afternoon.
