Action among the top teams in Section III Class AA girls soccer figures to be close and tense all season, something that Baldwinsville already knows. In the first of two showdowns with neighbor and rival Liverpool last Monday night, the Bees had plenty of chance, early and late, to break through and get on the scoreboard, but could not do so and had to absorb a 1-0 defeat to the Warriors. Having gone 2-1 in the early stages of the regular season, the Bees looked forward to the first of two regular-season clashes with Liverpool, who like B’ville was seeking a return to the top after back-to-back sectional titles in 2011 and ’12. Right from the outset, the Bees succeeded in taking away one of the Warriors’ primary options, closing up lanes on the defensive side so that Liverpool’s top attacking threat, Ore Akinpelu, didn’t get into the open field and create scoring chances. Despite this, the Warriors still spent long stretches in the Bees’ end, only having the occasional breakout, usually involving Isabella May driving deep into B’ville territory before the ball got taken away near the net. Just when it looked like it would go to the break 0-0, though, the Warriors created a possession in the far left corner. Christie Allen, who had rocketed a shot just over the net a few minutes earlier, passed to the middle, and defender Leah Egan’s shot eluded Hanna McKenzie, finding the net just three seconds before halftime. Down by a goal, the Bees began the second half with a strong attack and a pair of corner kicks, but they got turned away. Each time B’ville took it into Liverpool’s end, someone on the Warriors’ defense would speed back and erase that space. Still, the Bees almost pulled even, putting the ball near the net in the 64th minute with goalie Julie Richey, only to have Emily Darr kick it away at the last moment. Also, Hailey Couchman’s shot with 4:20 left sailed inches over the net. Meanwhile, the B’ville boys soccer team mostly rested during the week, but returned to action Saturday afternoon and put together a 2-0 shutout over Corcoran. All game long, the Bees applied pressure, only to run into a tremendous effort from Cougars goalie Robert Collier, who made 16 saves. But one shot in each half did find the net, Connor Ross and Tyler Barycki earning the goals, and it proved sufficient. Two nights later, B’ville (3-1-1) was back home, facing West Genesee, followed by a big match Wednesday at Liverpool and another Saturday-afternoon contest, this one against Central Square. With a 2-2 mark, B’ville’s girls had its own week of rest until Monday’s visit to West Genesee. After playing Rochester Mercy on Wednesday, the Bees, along with Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse, head off to Oneonta for a weekend tournament where each side will play twice, though not against each other. B’ville gets another shot at Liverpool on Sept. 29.