Well-rested, and ready for its most important stretch of the season, the Baldwinsville field hockey team dealt with all kinds of conditions and surfaces while playing three games in a six-day span – and won every time.
And none of those games mattered more than last Wednesday’s battle with Liverpool, who entered the game undefeated at 6-0-1, but exited with its first loss, the Bees stepping up its level of play, especially on defense, to knock off the Warriors 1-0 and end a three-game skid against CNY Counties League foes.
Liverpool had beaten the Bees 5-2 back on Sept. 8. But that came on the clean turf at LHS Stadium, while the rematch was on a grass field saturated by rain from the previous 24 hours.
Much more comfortable on its home surface, B’ville spent the first half probing and finding ways to attack as Liverpool got settled. That paid off when the sophomore duo of Lauren Brushingham and Amanda Strenk paired for a goal, Brushingham converting off a feed from Strenk.
The Bees had plenty of more opportunities, but didn’t put one past Warriors goalie Katie Yudin, who had 12 saves. That left it up to B’ville’s defense, who did everything possible to protect that slim margin, from blocking shots to forcing turnovers and penalties. All of Liverpool’s 14 shots got kicked away by Abigail Timmins.
Things were still relatively dry and warm when the Bees ventured to Cato-Meridian last Monday afternoon, and unleashing its attack, B’ville put things away in the second half and rolled past the Blue Devils 7-1.
Despite surrendering a first-half goal, the Bees still gained a 3-1 edge, and then kept going thanks to a well-balanced offense anchored by Brushingham, who had two assists to go with a goal, and Katie Doyle, who had three assists,
Strenk and McKenzie Carroll each found the net twice, with Strenk adding an assist. Jade Earle put up one goal and one assist as Abigail Timmins had a strong effort in the net, turning back six of the Blue Devils’ seven shots.
Having shocked Liverpool two days later, the Bees rode momentum into Saturday’s non-league game against East Syracuse Minoa, and nearly had a letdown – but made a big second-half comeback to edge the Spartans 2-1.
Just eight minutes into the game, Emma Schafer’s goal had ESM in front 1-0. Unlike the Liverpool game, though, that single early tally would not hold up, as twice in the early portion of the second half the Bees finished off attacks, Strenk netting one goal and assisting on the other, by Maria McCaffrey.
Though a lot of time remained, B’ville’s defense again made a small lead last until the end, helped in no small part by Timmins’ seven saves. The win left B’ville at 6-3 going into Monday night’s game at Fayetteville-Manlius, a prelude to non-league tests against Port Byron and Oneida later in the week.
