Not only did it feel good for the Baldwinsville boys soccer team to get back home, it was also necessary.
After a 6-0 start, the Bees had suffered its first blemishes of the season on the road, falling 2-1 to Fayetteville-Manlius at Swan Pond on Sept. 19 and, three nights later, getting held to a 0-0 draw at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Gillette Road complex.
It just so happened that both of those games were on grass fields, a difference from the fast Field Turf at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium where B’ville has dominated this fall.
So when the Bees returned to Pelcher-Arcaro last Monday, it was more comfortable – and quite motivated, too, for defending Section III Class AA champion Liverpool was paying a visit.
In 40 minutes, B’ville regained control of his neighborhood rivalry, scoring four straight times to all but settle matters. Eventually, the Bees won 5-1, spreading around its attack as Jack Todora registered two goals.
Brandon Mimas managed a goal and assist, with Ryan Downes and Josh Price also finding the net. Defender Ben Kinslow, along with D.J. Taylor, Ben Rabe and Jason Hahn, joined Mimas in the assist column. Caleb Munski netted Liverpool’s lone goal in the second half.
Still at home Thursday night, B’ville took on Henninger, and this time earned a shutout, blanking the Black Knights 3-0 in a game where it was only a one-goal margin at halftime before the Bees could get away.
Mimas regained some of his dominant early-season form, twice finding the net as Rabe also earned a goal. Hahn had an assist, as did Michael Allen, while Henninger did get some opportunities, only to be turned away as goalie Nolan Murphy stopped all five shots he faced.
Then B’ville handled Corcoran 9-0 on a chilly Saturday morning, having its way with the Cougars thanks to an attack where 13 players contributed to at least one of the goals, led by Mimas, who had a three-goal hat trick, and Taylor, who earned three assists.
Hahn and Price each had one goal and one assist, with Allen, Downes and Sean Micho also earning goals. Jack Todora, Sean O’Key and Griffin Seifritz also got credit for assists.
This leads to the rematch between B’ville and F-M this Saturday night, this time at Pelcher-Arcaro, at the end of another busy week that starts with a Monday visit from West Genesee and continues Wednesday against Nottingham.
