With both the top seed in the Section III playoffs and the no. 1 spot in the state Class A rankings that it has held for a month, the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team faces plenty of pressure in the week ahead.
Yet the Bees go there in the best possible frame of mind, having withstood a legitimate challenge in Tuesday’s regular-season finale to beat Penfield (Section V) 9-6 at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium and improve its record to 15-1.
The Patriots arrived at this game with an 11-4 record and no. 16 state ranking, and justified both marks with the way it played here, not letting B’ville pull away after the Bees steadily built a 6-3 halftime advantage.
Though outscored in the second half, B’ville held on thanks to a defense that, led by Maddie Czyz, Emme Foote, Sydney Smith an Ciara Curtis, contained matters as goalie Jordan Roy was sensational, stopping 12 of the 19 shots the Patriots threw at her.
Katie Pascale scored four times, nearly half the Bees’ output. Jenna Pastore added two goals as Hannah Johnson, Emma States and Emma Gebhardt had one goal apiece.
Liverpool saw its post-season fate hinge on whether it beat West Genesee Wednesday night at Mike Messere Field, and for a half, things were close – but it didn’t stay that way.
The Warriors lost, 13-9, even though it led 3-2 late in the first half and were still tied 4-4 early in the second half. Then the Wildcats reeled off seven unanswered goals, two each by Sam Detor and Elise Mancabelli, to get away. Detor finished with three goals and three assists.
Colleen Tifft and Bella Brancato got three goals apiece for Liverpool. Emily Salanger found the net twice, with Caroline Stevens adding a goal. Kendra Hall and Jenna Irwin picked up assists as Samantha Bates recorded 13 saves.
This followed Liverpool’s 13-9 defeat to Brighton on May 10, and the Warriors’ struggles continued last Monday on the road when it lost to another Section V opponent, Pittsford, in an 18-7 decision.
The Panthers pulled away from the Warriors, even though Salanger finished with three goals and Tifft got two goals and two assists. Irwin and Stevens also converted.
This was the same state Pittsford team that handled Cicero-North Syracuse by that same 18-7 margin on May 11 at Bragman Stadium.
In that game, Molly Molchanoff had four goals for the Northstars, the other goals going to Fran Tortora, Brooke Molchanoff and Rylie Kocik.
C-NS finished its season hosting Christian Brothers Academy, and played the reigning state Class A champions on even terms during the second half, but only after a rough first half led to a 16-9 defeat.
It was 10-3 at intermission before the Northstars could find a consistent rhythm, having Tortora and Payton Baker each notch three-goal hat tricks, Tortora adding two assists.
Molly Molchanoff had two goals and one assist, with Brooke Molchanoff adding one goal and one assist. Victoria Ianotti also had an assist as Alyssa Wilson made 10 saves. CBA had Gracie Britton and Bella Roberson contribute five goals apiece.
While C-NS and Liverpool both saw their seasons end, B’ville will face no. 4 seed Rome Free Academy in next Thursday’s sectional semifinal at 5 p.m. at Auburn’s Holland Stadium, the winner to get West Genesee or CBA in the May 28 title game at SUNY-Cortland.
