If timing does matter, then the West Genesee girls soccer team appeared to catch defending Section III Class AA champion Baldwinsville in the right position when they met Wednesday night in Camillus.
And the Wildcats nearly took advantage of that situation, battling hard for 80 minutes before taking a 1-0 loss to the Bees that, despite the result, had to offer encouragement should the two sides meet again in the post-season.
Just a day earlier, B’ville had played Liverpool to a 0-0, double-overtime draw, the kind of game that can drain anyone, even a good team. WG had an extra day of rest after a 2-0 regulation win over Auburn.
It was up to WG’s defense to make sure that the Bees’ top attackers, Emma and Jackie Firenze, did not find too much free space. Sure enough, Jenna Farrell, Emily Tripodi, Shelby Milne and the rest of the Wildcats’ back line put up all kinds of resistance during a 0-0 first half.
When shots did reach the net, Andrea Francisco got them, the junior goalkeeper recording nine saves on the night, nearly letting the Wildcats get to overtime.
However, in a second-half scramble in front of the WG net, Jackie Firenze poked free and beat Francisco for what proved to be the game’s only goal. The Wildcats found its attack sporadic, only managing five shots all game long.
All this followed the shutout of Auburn, where the Wildcats had to stay patient through a scoreless first half before taking charge in the late going.
Erica Geremia and Melissa Fumano earned those goals in the second half, while Abby Connor picked up an assist. Francisco stopped all four shots she faced.
Following the loss to B’ville, WG (6-2) got to rest for nearly a week before it returns to action Tuesday, against Utica Proctor, the start of a five-day stretch where the Wildcats also meet Central Square and Cicero-North Syracuse.
