Katie Pascale led the way in the beginning, and then returned to deliver the decisive blow that moved the Baldwinsville boys lacrosse team within one victory of a state Class A championship.
In between those extremes, a whole lot went wrong for the Bees in Friday’s state semifinal against Bethlehem at SUNY-Cortland, but just in time B’ville saved itself and prevailed, 15-14, in overtime over the Eagles.
Trying to become the first Section II team to ever win a state title, Bethlehem roared back from an early 8-2 deficit and led, 13-11, late in the second half when Pascale fueled the Bees’ own comeback.
With 1:52 left, Pascale, who already had four goals and three assists, found the net again to make it 13-12. Then she won the ensuing draw, B’ville charged and, 38 seconds later, Jenna Pastore pulled her team even.
Bethlehem gained possession, called time-out and, with 45.9 seconds left, went back in front, 14-13, when defender Sophie Glassman scored for just the third time all season.
That still left lots of time, though, for the Bees, who again had Pascale claim the draw, setting up an attack where Emma States, with 26.4 seconds to play, converted.
B’ville’s defense made a crucial last-second stop to force it into overtime, where again Pascale would go up against the Eagles’ Caroline Wise, who had earned a majority of the game’s draws.
“We needed to win it,” said Pascale. “The draw was everything.”
Pascale did enough with the draw to work the ball toward Hannah Johnson, who as a focal point of Bethlehem’s defense was held without a point, but picked up the day’s most important ground ball.
Attacking immediately, the ball got back to Pascale, who was fouled. Taking a free-position shot from the left side, Pascale said the hours of practice of these shots made it easier to face, and she ripped a shot past Eagles goalie Sophia Koch to end it.
That it even turned out so dramatic was a tribute to Bethlehem’s resilience after B’ville had jumped out to an 8-2 first-half lead, Pascale scoring or assisting on six of the Bees’ tallies.
The Eagles closed within four, 10-6, by halftime, and then scored four times early in the second half to tie it, 10-10. It went back and forth until Lindsey Ayres found the net with 8:47 to play and Ashlynn McGrath converted four minutes later.
Overcoming its mid-game struggles, B’ville’s defense forced a crucial turnover when Bethlehem tried to run out the clock, and Pascale took over from there.
Seeking the second state title in program history, the Bees will face Northport (Section XI) in Saturday’s state final after Northport defeated Pittsford 13-3 in the other state semifinal.
