One of the area field hockey season’s most anticipated regular-season games featured two reigning Section III champions, Baldwinsville and Holland Patent.
And for 60 minutes, the Bees mostly held its own against the potent Golden Knights, but were unable to get on the scoreboard in a 1-0 defeat.
Going into the game, HP was 6-0-1, its lone blemish a 0-0 draw with Clinton Oct. 24. But the Golden Knights had scored 56 goals in its first six games, led by Hanna Corrigan (17 goals, nine assists) and Maggie Cummings (11 goals).
Somehow, the Bees’ defense kept both Corrigan and Cummings quiet throughout the game, using multiple defenders and then seeing Cara Vredenburg record 16 saves.
The lone goal came when Madison Oliver put a shot past Vredenburg in the first half. B’ville had a host of chances of its own, but HP goalie Ella Buchanan stopped all 10 shots.
Just 24 hours later, B’ville was back home to face East Syracuse Minoa, and it proved one of the season’s most exciting games, with the Bees rallying to edge the Spartans 3-2 in overtime.
Having handled ESM 4-1 in its Oct. 9 season opener, the Bees found it tougher in the rematch, a 1-0 halftime edge melting away when Kodi Smith and Olivia Grabowski each netted goals, with assists credited to Rileigh White and Sophia Orlando.
Still, B’ville converted once in those late stages to keep it 2-2. Then, in the seven-on-seven OT session, Sydney Huhtala put in the game-winner.
Rebecca Mantione earned a pair of assists, with Emma Dugan and Paige Morrissey picking up the goals in regulation as Mia Kuzdzal had an assist and each of Vredenburg’s four saves was important.
A busy first two weeks of November looms as B’ville would host unbeaten Cicero-North Syracuse Wednesday in between visits from Cortland and Cazenovia.
