Trying to build up momentum before its return to the Section III Division I playoffs, the Baldwinsville ice hockey team faced a huge test Friday night when fast-charging Ithaca came to Lysander Arena.
And through an ideal set of circumstances, the Bees moved up the standings and improved its odds of being at home for the semifinal round, beating the Little Red 4-3.
Coming off a win and a tie over first-place West Genesee, Ithaca found B’ville to be just as tough of an opponent.
They traded goals through the first period, and it was 1-1. The exchange continued in the second period, each side finding the net twice as the game moved to a 3-3 tie.
Just at the right moment, though, the Bees’ defense tightened, keeping Ithaca off the board in the third period as Nick Leader worked his way to 23 saves and B’ville scored once more to go in front for good.
Adam Mohr, with two goals, led a deep and balanced attack where John Waldon and Mike McElwain also scored. Pat Briggs, Tim Larkin, Brad Burlingame, Chris Newman and Connor Bertrand each had one assist. Ithaca, in defeat, got Tyler St. Denis and Connor Lofgren each to earn one goal and one assist.
As this was going on, West Genesee, still in first place, lost 1-0 to Oswego, keeping it at 20 points, just two ahead of the Bees (18 points) with one week left in the regular season.
Should the Bees beat Fayetteville-Manlius or Ithaca this week, it will have a great chance at staying home for the Section III Division I semifinals. Two wins and a West Genesee loss could mean a league regular-season title.
