BALDWINSVILLE – It’s already a special season for the Baldwinsville field hockey team, no matter what happens now.
The Bees played 16 regular-season games and won them all, offering an ideal combination of a potent, explosive attack with a defense that knew how to protect leads once they were gained.
In the process, B’ville passed a particular milestone when, in Monday’s 1-0 victory over Fayetteville-Manlius at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium, it gave head coach Tessa Ordway her 100th win at the helm.
There was enough to worry about with F-M regardless of the circumstances. The Hornets had pushed the Bees hard on Sept. 23 at F-M in a 1-0 decision.
And even when Julia Schultz converted in the first quarter, the Hornets absorbed it and, in the second period, got on the board when Nora Wilson scored off a feed from Sarah Porter.
That proved a rare attack since, for most of the game, B’ville was camped in F-M’s end, constantly frustrated as Hornets goalie Kaleigh Hamilton was sensational, recording 18 saves.
Staying patient, the Bees regained the lead in the third quarter on Schultz’s second goal (her 18th of the season, one behind teammate Bridget Roy), and then it used constant possession to prevent F-M from an answer.
Now all that remained to complete the undefeated regular-season run was a Thursday visit from Onondaga High School League regular-season champion Cazenovia – which turned into another fine all-around performance by the Bees, who blanked the Lakers 5-0.
With an 11-3 record and having won nine in a row through September and October, Cazenovia was eager to challenge B’ville, but perhaps that very quality made sure that the Bees would not take the challenge lightly.
It took less than four minutes for Roy to put B’ville on the board, her goal assisted by Huhtala. Then the two paired up again for another goal to extend the margin.
When Schultz converted just 24.7 seconds before halftime, the Bees all but put it out of reach, though defender Skye Exware would tack on a second-half goal, as would Bella Nazdan.
