What the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team has found out is that it can win many different ways – either shutting an opponent down, or producing on the other end when it is needed.
That has to scare all of the Bees’ future foes, especially in the wake of B’ville’s come-from-behind, 14-13 overtime victory over previously unbeaten Fayeteville-Manilus Tuesday night on the Hornets’ home turf.
These teams had met April 12 at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium and F-M had pulled it out 16-13, but B’ville had won six in a row since that game and had moved to no. 11 in the state Class A poll.
So the Bees didn’t get rattled when 10-0, state Class B no. 4-ranked F-M seized a 7-5 halftime lead, and kept its poise even as the Hornets doubled that margin to 10-6 at one point in the second half.
Then Peyton Fleming started winning draws for the Bees and the gap closed, with B’ville ultimately catching up, 13-13, near the end of regulation.
Having already beaten West Genesee in OT earlier this season, the Bees again maintained composure even after F-M claimed the draw in the extra period, forcing a turnover and then attacking hard.
Ultimately, the ball came to Maria Henwood, who took a pass from Katie Pascale and put in the game-winning goal with 1:53 left in the OT.
It was Henwood’s second goal of the night as Fleming and Sara Goodwin had four goals apiece, with Fleming adding three assists. Emma States also scored twice as Pascale and Hannah Johnson got single goals.
In defeat, F-M got five goals from Gemma Addonizio, while Amanda Cramer had three goals and two assists. Kiera Shanley managed three assists as Annie Steigerwald and Maddie Noel had two goals apiece. Katie Shanley had one goal and one assist.
This ability of a young B’ville team with only a handful of seniors to do well in close games was again on display Saturday at Ithaca, where the Bees pulled out an 11-10 decision over the Little Red.
A low-scoring first half ended tied, 4-4. When the pace picked up, B’ville handled it, claiming a slim lead and then hanging on late as junior defenders Emme Foote, Madelyn Czyz, Ciara Curtis and Sarah Klein continued their strong work.
Offensively, Pascale nabbed three goals and two assists, with Goodwin also scoring three times. States had two goals as Johnson got a goal and assist, with Monica Lannier and Jenna Pastore also converting.
So B’ville would take a 10-2 record and eight-game win streak into Monday’s big home tilt with West Genesee, who was looking to avenge its overtime defeat to the Bees in mid-April. Then its hosts Cicero-North Syracuse Thursday and Irondequoit on Saturday.
