About the only thing more exciting and thrilling for the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team than a state Class A championship is taking it two years in a row.

That’s a real possibility for the Bees going into 2023, with many of the stars, especially on offense, back from a side that played better and better last spring until it claimed the program’s first state crown in 22 years.

Any possible concerns about how hungry and motivated B’ville might be as reigning state champions was quickly answered in the course of the team’s April 1 season opener against Section II’s Bethlehem at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.

Against an Eagles program with plenty of its own ambitions, the Bees put up 10 unanswered goals in the first half, and continued from there until it had prevailed by a 16-4 margin.

Sophia Ianno, controlling seven draws, set a tone matched by Brianna Peters and Mia Pozzi, who each claimed five draws as Peters got four goals and two assists and Pozzi three goals.

Carlie Desimone and Sophia Muscolino also had three-goal outings, Desimone adding two assists. Lea Otts had a goal and two assists as Alexza Zalla and Jaya Madigan also found the net.

An even bigger early-season test would come when the Bees went west to the Rochester area to face Section V’s Pittsford, but here B’ville’s all-around excellence again proved too much as it beat the Panthers 12-5.

Again, the first half decided matters, the Bees jumping out 7-1 with a steady attack that, when in top form, could withstand a comeback attempt like Pittsford attempted.

Desimone, by herself, matched the Panthers’ scoring output, getting five goals and adding a pair of assists. Pozzi had two goals and one assist, while Muscolino earned three assists, joining Peters, Otts, Olivia Bartlett and Sierra Natoli in the one-goal column.

B’ville has a pair of road games this week, taking on rival West Genesee Thursday night before a Saturday-afternoon visit to Fairport.