CICERO – omewhere at halftime of last Wednesday’s Section III Class A championship game at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Bragman Stadium, an invisible switch went on for the Baldwinsville lacrosse team.
Whether it was harsh words from the coaching staff or a self-realization that a chance at greater glory could get stopped right here, the Bees’ players reclaimed the level of play to which it is quite familiar – and left Liverpool far behind them.
The final 16-7 margin that produced a fourth consecutive sectional title for B’ville was quite lopsided, but did not reflect how difficult it was at the outset, due to a combination of the Warriors’ determination and the Bees’ own mistakes.
Liverpool had offered the only serious challenge to B’ville all season among area Class A sides, having dropped a narrow 10-9 decision late in April.
And for quite a while here, it appeared that the Warriors may have discovered a winning formula, keeping the Bees’ potent attack out of sorts while efficient and effective on the other end.
The first quarter ended tied 2-2. While the pace picked up a bit the rest of the half, Liverpool remained tough, matching whatever B’ville produced and going to the break even at 5-5.
What followed, in the third quarter, was Josh Armpriester starting to control the face-off circle while teammate Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson hustled to ground balls and created extra possessions.
Gradually, they wore the Warriors’ defenses down, leading to a 6-1 push through the third quarter and not letting up in the final period, either.
B’ville’s depth was on display as five different players had multiple goals, led by Keegan Lynch, who got five assists to go with his pair of tallies.
Garrett Sutton scored four times and added an assist, while Iggy LoMedico had a three-goal hat trick. Carson Dyl and Brady Garcia also had two-goal outings as Ryan Quinn got a goal and three assists. Greg Marinelli and Judson Ferris also scored and goalie Nick Cary had 12 saves
With the sectional title secure, B’ville was back at Bragman Stadium to meet Section IV champion Corning in Saturday’s Class A regional final, and again it was close and tense for a while before the Bees put away the Hawks 8-4.
Corning’s tight defense was the story throughout the first half, B’ville mostly meeting with frustration but still able to grind out a 3-2 advantage going into the break.
Early in the third quarter, though, goals by Lynch and Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson provided a cushion, and then Sutton converted twice late in the period to make it 7-2.
Meanwhile, helped by nine saves from Cary, B’ville’s defense blanked the Hawks for a long stretch until the final minutes. Sutton finished with three goals as Quinn got two assists. Dyl and Brady Garcia each had one goal and one assist.
In mext Wednesday’s state semifinal at SUNY-Cortland, B’ville meets Section V champion Pittsford, the winner to go to Long Island’s Hofstra University Saturday to play for the state title.
