If positive results against high-level opponents helps generate confidence and momentum, the Baldwinsville boys lacrosse team had a full tank of it.
This was due to the Bees’ 7-6, come-from-behind win over Section V powerhouse Victor on May 6, achieved when Carson Dyl scored the clinching goal with 1.9 seconds left in regulation after Keegan Lynch had tied it with less than 90 seconds to play.
And the next time B’ville was on its home field at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium last Thursday night, it was against long-time rival West Genesee on Senior Night where many players who contributed to the program’s first-ever state Class A championship in 2022 were honored.
Motivated to win on this special occasion, and remembering that WG beat them 10-9 in Camillus back in April, the Bees went out in front early and used timely goals at key moments to turn back the Wildcats 13-10.
Not until Dyl scored late in the first quarter did the Bees lead for good, and it spent the first half protecting a modest margin only to turn it up when necessary.
Up 4-2 late in the second quarter, B’ville doubled the margin with goals from Dylan Wirtheim and Garrett Sutton, and Sutton returned to fire a shot pat Shane Staudt and just beat the halftime horn to make it 7-2 at the break.
Battling back, WG cut the margin to 9-7 late in the second quarter, but a 13-second sequence at the end of that period proved decisive.
First, Wirtheim converted, ending a three-goal Wildcats run. Then, taking the ensuing draw, Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson charged in with his long stick and converted with 3.9 seconds left.
Now protecing an 11-7 advantage, the Bees never let it get too close again, having Nick Cary record 15 saves as Keegan Lynch matched Wirtheim’s’ three goals and added two assists. Single goals went to Ryan Quinn, who got two assists, along with Brady Garcia and Iggy LoMedico.
Before all this, the Bees went to the Rochester area last Tuesday to face Webster Thomas and, after an uneven start, settled into the game and then took over late to beat the Titans 12-3.
All through the first three quarters, Webster Thomas controlled the game’s pace, not letting B’ville settle into its attack too much and only trailing 6-3 with one period left.
However, once it got some face-offs, the Bees went on a closing 6-0 run, largely on the passing of Lynch, who set a career mark with eight assists to go with his lone goal.
Among those who benefited from Lynch’s passes were Sutton, with a three-goal hat trick, and Wirtheim, Quinn and Zach Sauro, who each scored twice. Brady Garcia and Dylan Garcia both finished with one goal and one assist, Cary combining with Trevor Sutton and Brandon Dusky top 16 of the Titans’ 19 shots.
One more regular-season home game remained after West Genesee, the Bees facing Section IV’s Vestal on Saturday and steadily working its way to a 14-9 victory over the Golden Bears.
Vestal didn’t get fazed when trailing 5-1 after one period, outscoring B’ville the rest of a half. But a 4-1 push through the third quarter made it 13-7, too much to overcome.
LoMedico took top individual honors for the Bees, earning his first three-goal hat trick as a varsity players. Sutton scored four times, with Lynch getting three goals and three assists. Brady Garcia scored twice and single goals went to Quinn and Dylan Garcia.
Once it is done with Tuesday’s regular-season finale at Fayetteville-Manlius, B’ville can rest for more than a week and get ready for its sectional and state Class A title defenses.
