With back-to-back Section III championships locked up, the Baldwinsville field hockey set out in another quest for a state championship – and it’s not over yet.
The Bees traveled to Shenendehowa High School to face Section II champion Saratoga Springs in the Class A regional final – which it won in a 4-3 thriller.
Before the game was seven minutes old, B’ville had a 1-0 lead, breaking through against Saratoga’s defense as Mackenzie Wodka picked up the goal. Saratoga tied it less than three minutes later with Jessie House’s goal.
Things calmed down for a while, but there was another exchange of goals late in the half, Wodka striking again for the Bees and House converting her second goal for the Blue Streaks, meaning the game stood at 2-2 going into halftime.
B’ville was getting a majority of the good chances, yet found itself tied as the second half wore on. Staying patient, the Bees reclaimed the lead for the third time on Mary Cate McKee’s goal with 11 minutes to play.
Seconds later, the Bees were attacking again, and Amanda Strenk put home her 32nd goal of the season. That insurance was needed, since Erin McCarthy converted with 1:59 to play off a penalty corner, requiring B’ville to hang on late and pull it out.
For the second year in a row, the Bees are in the state final four, and are Section III’s lone representative on championship weekend after Camden (Class B) and Holland Patent (Class C) were defeated in regional play – the Blue Devils by Burnt Hills, the Golden Knights by Schuylerville.
On Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Vestal High School near Binghamton., B’ville takes on Long Island champion Ward Melville in the semifinals, with the winner going to the final against Maine-Endwell (Section IV) or Webster Thomas (Section V) on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
