ONONDAGA COUNTY – It could be argued that the Baldwinsville girls lacrosse team’s run to the 2022 state Class A championship was rooted in the bitter disappointment of an overtime defeat to Cicero-North Syracuse in the Section III final the year before on its home turf at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.
What happens to the Bees in 2023 is still unknown, but either way another OT loss to the Northstars, this one 11-10 last Tuesday night, will loom large in the narrative.
B’ville was coming off a May 6 defeat to Victor where it was unable to hold a halftime lead. Now it was meeting a C-NS side who was 12-1, its lone blemish a 12-8 loss to the Bees on April 20.
In that earlier game, B’ville built an eight-goal lead early in the second half before the Northstars rallied late, and twice in this rematch, the Bees threatened to run away again.
Once it jumped out to a 4-1 advantage in the opening minutes, B’ville would spend the rest of the half mostly maintaining that margin.
Then, early in the second half, the Bees extended its lead to 9-5 led by Brianna Peters’ four goals and Carlie Distefano’s six assists.
What kept it close was that the Northstars made enough stops, and won enough draws, to gain more possession time that eventually wore B’ville’s defenses down.
Sparked by the likes of Mackenzie Prentice and Brooke Molchanoff, the Northstars hit on four straight goals. Then freshman Elizabeth Smith converted with 4:32 left and C-NS had a 10-9 lead.
Mia Pozzi tied it for B’ville with her fourth goal with 2:20 to play. Both sides missed chances in the final two minutes, leading to OT, where Gabby Putman pushed the draw to Smith, who gained possession.
For more than two minutes, the Northstars patiently worked it around the Bees’ net, making defenders guess when it would attack. Then Molchanoff, just behind the cage, passed to the front, and Prentice one-timed it past Ava Graham for the game-winner.
Furious at what had taken place in these previous two games, the Bees let out that fury in Thursday’s trip to Fayetteville-Manlius, roaring past the Hornets 14-5.
Peters, with four goals and one assist, led a more balanced attack where Desimone scored twice, but Peyton Dyl and Sophia Muscolino did so, too. Pozzi had a goal and two assists, with Lea Otts, Sophia Ianno and Jaya Madigan also able to earn goals.
Three more road games remained, starting Saturday, at Westhill, where B’ville found itself in a tough battle for a long while before breaking out to prevail 14-8.
It was 6-6 at halftime, Westhill ultimately getting five goals from Kara Rosenberger, but the Bees took over early in the second half, displaying far more depth and scoring balance.
Desimone and Peters both got three goals, with Desimone adding three assists. Otts scored twice and got two assists, with Pozzi and Sierra Natoli also getting two goals and defender Sophia Ianno finding the net, too.
What remains this week are games at Liverpool Tuesday and South Jefferson Thursday night before a bit of time to rest, recuperate and prepare for post-season action.
