Long stretches of rest and practice had made the Baldwinsville girls soccer team a bit restless, so it was quite happy to return to action, especially against top-flight opposition.
Cicero-North Syracuse came to Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium last Wednesday night, and it was a tense, active contest, but the Bees were able to hold off the Northstars 3-2.
Jade Gentile’s goal in the opening minutes gave B’ville a quick 1-0 edge, but C-NS pulled even midway through the first half before Isabella May’s goal put her side back in front, 2-1, where it stood at halftime.
Still, the Bees needed Hailey Couchman’s goal early in the second half, because the Northstars, who got goals from Marissa Rio and Stephanie Liberati, got back within one in the 61st minute and maintained pressure until the final minutes.
Couchman and Tianna Coon both earned assists, while Mackenzie Hanna, who played most of the game in the net, finished with eight saves. C-NS goalie Alyssa Jim had six saves.
It was supposed to be far less tense when B’ville visited Auburn on Friday afternoon, but the Maroons proved quite stubborn, hanging in there right until the end before the Bees were able to pull out a 2-1 victory.
Michaela Breeze’s goal, assisted by Julia Rescott, helped Auburn forge a 1-1 halftime tie. Not until the second half did B’ville move out in front, in large part because Maroons goalie Ally Nicolisi was stopping close to everything on her way to 16 saves.
Still, the goals by Gentile and Emily Buis got B’ville a victory, with its pair of goalie, Jaclyn Hingre and Mackenzie Hanna, combining for seven saves.
A big week looms ahead for the Bees. It hosts Fayetteville-Manlius on Monday and, on Saturday night, pays a visit to two-time defending Class AA champion Liverpool, with a game against the combined Syracuse city squad in between.
