Maybe the Baldwinsville field hockey team should fall behind in every game, for that seems to bring out its best work.
Once again, the Bees made a late comeback and pulled out an overtime victory last Monday, only this time it was against Cicero-North Syracuse as B’ville edged the Northstars 2-1 at Bragman Stadium.
This was the first time the Bees had faced C-NS since last fall’s Section III Class A final, and both teams were good again, the Northstars having raced to a 4-0 start.
Two days earlier, at Cortland, the Bees had rallied from a 2-0 deficit to pull it out 3-2 in OT. It didn’t get that lopsided here, but for a long while it appeared that C-NS would prevail.
It proved frustrating for B’ville during the first half as it saw all of its attacks turned away long before it got to the net. Even when it got a pair of penalty corners late in the half, they went nowhere.
C-NS had far more good opportunities, and cashed in with Jamie Snyder’s goal in the last minute of the half, a 1-0 lead that held up for quite a while.
In fact, it was the Northstars getting most of the chances in the second half. Somehow, Maura Bartell, Molly Huntington, Hannah Norton and the rest of the Bees’ back line held up, and Hailey Boda was superb, recording 13 saves.
Finally, late in regulation B’ville’s attack picked up, and with 7:37 left a series of passes set up Erika Van Slyke’s tying goal, Mackenzie Wodka earning the assist.
When they went to seven-on-seven OT, the more open game ultimately went in the Bees’ favor. Emma Brushingham, contained most of the game, was open next to the net and, taking a pass from Olivia Wachob, put it past Ally Wagner for the game-winner.
B’ville was back home on Thursday to face Fayetteville-Manlius, and for the third straight game the Bees found itself going beyond regulation, only this one did not end with a resolution – or a goal.
For 60 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of OT, B’ville and F-M moved up and down the field enough and generated plenty of scoring chances.
Yet none of the Bees’ 12 shots got past Hornets goalie Catherine Barr, with the Bees’ defense again in top form and Boda finishing with seven saves.
No drama was needed Saturday against Vernon-Verona-Sherrill as B’ville handled the Red Devils 5-0, with Wodka and Wachob each netting a pair of goals and Bailey Nicholson also finding the net. Madison Ascioti had two assists as Brushingham, Leah Tuch and Molly Huntington had one assist apiece.
This moved the Bees to 5-1-1 overall as it hosted Liverpool Monday before traveling Wednesday to East Syracuse Minoa and then visits Cazenovia on Friday afternoon.
