Even though it wasn’t a victory, the Baldwinsville boys lacrosse team’s overtime defeat to state-ranked Fayetteville-Manlius on April 27 signaled that it was making rapid improvement and could prove a real headache in May, both in the regular season and post-season.
That theory was tested in a trio of games, played over a five-day span, capped Saturday by a dramatic battle with undefeated, state Class C no. 2-ranked Penn Yan. With some late dramatics, the Bees knocked off the Mustangs 9-8.
From a 1-1 tie, B’ville appeared to take control when it outscored Penn Yan 4-1 in the second quarter. Thanks to Luke Evans pouring in five goals, the Bees’ lead grew to 8-4 by the end of the third period.
Penn Yan refused to go away, though, winning the fourth-quarter face-offs and rattling off four unanswered goals to tie it, 8-8. Ryan Maciejewski, with two goals and two assists, and Dylan Yants, with two goals and one assist, led that push.
Still, the Bees got the ball late in regulation and worked it around to Ben Paprocki, whose shot eluded Mustangs goalie Brandon Maciejewski with 20 seconds left in regulation, and proved the game-winner.
That was Paprocki’s second goal of the night, as Austin McCaskill and Ronnie Bertrand also converted. Steve Petrelli picked up four assists. Connor Chapman had two assists and Pat Colligan also got an assist.
All of it began with the Bees ripping past Central Square 14-2 last Tuesday night. B’ville only allowed goals in the second quarter, otherwise keeping the Red Hawks off the board as a 3-0 start and 5-0 tear through the third quarter decided matters.
Evans stepped up for four goals and one assist. Petrelli scored three times, adding three assists as Joe Delia managed two goals and three assists. Bertrand and Colligan also had two-goal efforts, with McCaskill managing a single goal. Parker Ferrigan, aggressive in the net, even earned an assist, as did Luke McCaffrey.
On Thursday night, B’ville was supposed to get a bigger challenge at Rome Free Academy, whose 7-2 start included a real scare put into Liverpool (an 11-8 defeat) the week before.
But the Bees were sensational here, pulling away and ripping the Black Knights 13-4. Steadily, B’ville gained a 5-2 lead by halftime, but made its big move in the third quarter, outscoring RFA 6-1 to decide matters.
Delia again was generous, amassing six assists, his passes often going to Colligan, who led B’ville with four goals. Bertrand and Matt Zandri each scored twice, while Delia, Petrelli, Evans, Colin Gooley and Nate Rutkowski got single goals. Paprocki added two assists.
Just as impressive was the Bees’ defense. Collin Twombly, Scott Kirchner, John Walker and company stayed aggressive, causing all kinds of RFA mistakes, and Ferrigan again stood out, recording 16 saves.
B’ville would visit Oswego Tuesday night before returning home Thursday to face Corcoran in advance of Monday’s match with defending state Class C champion Cazenovia.
