When the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team hit the field Saturday afternoon against Irondequoit, things felt different.
For the first time in more than a quarter-century, someone other than Doug Rowe was coaching the Bees in the season opener. Rowe’s departure, and subsequent hiring at Rome Free Academy, drew plenty of attention, but in finding a new head coach, B’ville kept it in the family.
Megan Collins is a Baker High School and Le Moyne College graduate and played under Rowe. Now her task is to try and restore the Bees to a championship level.
Against Irondequoit, there were plenty of opening-game mistakes, but also enough good stuff for the Bees to beat the Eagles 13-7.
Having not seen much practice time on a full field due to the snow still on the ground from the massive mid-March storm, B’ville still managed to get into rhythm on the offensive end in short order.
Constant attacks led to a string of goals and a comfortable 10-4 Bees lead at halftime. Irondequoit would defend better in the second half, yet all the Eagles could do was match B’ville’s production level.
Sara Goodwin had a role in more than half the Bees’ scoring plays, finishing with four goals and three assists. Peyton Fleming and Julia Pelcher each scored twice, with Katie Pascale getting one goal and one assist. Meghan Donahue, Maria Henwood, Hannah Johnson and Monica Lannier got one goal apiece.
With Collins’ first head coaching win in the books, B’ville would get back to work for a week and then, on Saturday, go on the road for another game against a Section V opponent as it meets Brighton.
