There was no better way for the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team to garner major momentum for the upcoming Section III Class A playoffs than by derailing West Genesee.
When these two programs and long-time rivals met again last Thursday night at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, the Bees held its own most of the way, yet were kept quiet at crucial points, which made the difference in an 11-8 loss to the Wildcats.
B’ville entered the game well-rested, but WG was red-hot, having just beaten Fayetteville-Manlius, CBA and Cicero-North Syracuse as it brought a six-game win streak into the contest – which had started back on April 25 in Camillus when it shut down the Bees in a 9-2 decision.
The rematch proved far closer. The two sides traded goals over the first 10 minutes before Mackenzie Baker, Julia Williams and Lauren Ferris struck to push the Wildcats to a 5-2 lead. B’ville didn’t blink, though, blanking WG for the rest of the half and, with its own 3-0 run, pulling even, 5-5, at the break.
They were still tied, 6-6, when WG’s Eliza MacCaull converted with 17 minutes left. That put the Wildcats head for good as MacCaull and Procopio followed with consecutive goals to make it 9-6.
Each time B’ville tried to tighten it up, the Wildcats had a timely answer, MacCaull and Procopio both netting goals in the closing minutes. Ally Trice gained three goals and Baker would amass four assists,.
Though well-balanced, B’ville never had a single player break out as seven players earned its eight goals, with only Peyton Fleming scoring twice. Sara Goodwin had a goal and three assists as Maria Henwood, Julia Pelcher, Hannah Johnson and Monica Lannier also scored and Madeline Czyz picked up an assist.
B’ville did prevail on Saturday, though, breaking out in a big way on offense during a 20-11 victory over Shaker, from the Section II ranks.
Scoring on most of its first-half possessions, the Bees led the Blue Bison 12-4 by halftime, more than a big enough cushion as Goodwin, in particular, broke out, earning a career-best eight goals plus three assists. Fleming also got to double digits in points with three goals and seven assists.
Katie Pascale scored four times, adding three assists as Pelcher and Lilli Foote each had two goals, Foote adding an assist. Lannier had the other goal and Johnson picked up a pair of assists.
Home again on Tuesday, B’ville would face Cicero-North Syracuse in its regular-season finale. The sectional playoffs get underway the following week, with the Class A final set for May 30 at SUNY-Cortland, also the home of the state final four June 9-10.
