ONONDAGA COUNTY – Even as it rolled to five consecutive victories to open its season, the Baldwinsville field hockey team knew that its most important tests still lay ahead.
But the Bees passed the first of them when it went to Bragman Stadium last Tuesday night and, carried by Sydney Huhtala and an outstanding defense, knocked off Cicero-North Syracuse 2-1.
The Northstars did not lose a game in the 2020 season, which included 2-0 and 2-1 wins over B’ville. Remembering this, the Bees attacked hard from the outset, but were unable to score in the opening minutes.
That changed when, 31 seconds into the second quarter, Huhtala, off a feed from Julia Schultz, banged in a hard shot from the right point.
Somehow, B’ville maintained that 1-0 edge until halftime despite C-NS settling in and, with its offense, forcing nine penalty corners, all of which were turned back.
Two other times, Bees defenders slapped the ball away near the goal line, and that protection would continue into a third quarter where it mostly fended off C-NS’s multiple runs.
Emma Ciappa, Ella Holtman and Skye Exware led the back line’s efforts, and Nadia Kozman was steady and poised in the net, turning back 10 Northstars shots.
Huhtala added another goal late in the third quarter assisted by Emma Hollenbeck and it proved the game-winner. Gabby Wameling cut the margin to one with 12:31 left, but the Bees effectively turned back all of C-NS’s frantic late attacks.
Back home for a pair of non-league games, B’ville handled Weedsport 7-0 on Thursday with its attack led by Bridget Roy, who poured in three goals for a hat trick and added an assist.
Schultz matched that point total, scoring twice and getting a pair of assists, while Huhtala earned one goal and one assist. Bella Nazdan, Erin Gee and Ava Hettler also got credit for assists.
Then, against Fairport (Section V) on Saturday afternoon, the Bees remained in top form, earning another shutout as it blanked the Red Raiders 3-0.
Roy poured in two more goals, giving her five in two games. Emma Hollenbeck also converted, with Schultz, Huhtala and Gloria Metallo getting one assist apiece.
So the Bees are 8-0 at the midway point of its schedule, set to challenge on Thursday night a Fayetteville-Manlius side that got its own 1-0 win over C-NS last weekend.
