Maybe it’s reached a point where the Baldwinsville field hockey team is tired of games against Salt City Athletic Division opponents that go beyond regulation.
For the second time, the Bees were defeated in an overtime game against a league rival last Monday night, only this time it was on home turf, B’ville falling 2-1 to Fayetteville-Manlius.
The Hornets had roared out to a 5-0 start this fall and had already proven it could win close, exciting contests, whether it was over East Syracuse Minoa in overtime or a last-second goal by Stephanie Drapas that beat Cicero-North Syracuse.
Meanwhile, B’ville had recovered well from its own OT defeat, 1-0, to C-NS on Sept. 3, winning its next three games, all on the road, and was determined to halt F-M’s momentum.
During the first half, the Bees were shut down, and Drapas netted a goal to give the Hornets a 1-0 edge. Then it was B’ville’s turn to surge in the second half, pulling even, 1-1, when Emma Brushingham converted.
Controlling long stretches of possession, the Bees took more than twice the number of shots that F-M did, only to get turned back, junior goalie Claire Grenis recording eight saves overall.
Now in seven-on-seven OT again, B’ville pushed, but once more saw its defense burned when Drapas sent a shot past Sarah Smiley to help the Hornets prevail.
B’ville faced more disappointment on Saturday afternoon, taking a 3-0 defeat to Section IV power Vestal. This leads to a rematch with C-NS Thursday at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium before Holland Patent visits a night later.
