CENTRAL NEW YORK – Unique circumstances created a Friday afternoon where both of Baldwinsville’s lacrosse teams looked to return to their respective state championship games a few miles and a few hours apart.
Only the boys Bees would prove successful, holding on to defeat Section V’s Pittsford 7-6 Friday afternoon at Homer High School in a game postponed two days by hazardous air conditions stemming from the Quebec wildfires.
Ultimately, what pulled B’ville through was a defense that, in the final nine minutes, 39 seconds, kept the Panthers off the board after goals by Luke Fliss and Avery Valenti trimmed away the Bees’ 7-4 margin.
Try as it could, B’ville could not burn off the remaining clock and had to make several crucial stops, including two in the final minute.
Greg Marinelli got in the way of a pass in the middle of the field to force a turnover. Then, after Pittsford got the ball back and called a time-out with 18.4 seconds left, goalie Nick Cary stopped Jackson Green’s game-tying attempt, then cleared it out to kill most of the remaining clock.
Though it never trailed, the Bees found itself in the same situation as it did in both of its previous two playoff games, grinding through a close first half before appearing to get control in the third quarter.
Ahead 3-2 at the break, B’ville got unassisted goals from Garrett Sutton, Carson Dyl and Ryan Quinn that, with just one answer from the Panthers, created a 6-3 margin going to the final period.
But after Garrett Lynch converted a minute into the fourth quarter, Pittsford’s defense did an effective job protecting its own net and, ultimately, forcing Cary, Marinelli, Pat Otts and Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson to deliver an opportunity at back-to-back state titles.
Going first at Cortland High School, the girls Bees were challenged by Long Island champion Massapequa and saw the Chiefs put together a strong all-around performance to prevail 12-6.
B’ville carried the advantage of experience, winning on this stage in 2022, contrasting the Chiefs, who were appearing in the state semifinals for the first time.
Yet Massapequa flew out of the gate, getting a 3-0 lead and forcing turnovers on the Bees’ early possessions before Brianna Peters got her side on the board just before the 10-minute mark.
This didn’t dissuade the Chiefs, who continued to control matters on both ends and made it 5-1, forcing the Bees to use a time-out. That seemed to kick-start the Bees’ attack, as Mia Pozzi got a goal and Sophia Muscolino converted twice.
So, though it trailed 6-4 at halftime, B’ville had worked hard to get back in the game, and counted on the poise built up winning so many big games to make the difference.
Massapequa defied all of this, though, dominating the early phases of the second half as it netted three straight goals to extend its lead to 9-4 and saw its goalie, Christina Fradella, work her total to eight saves.
Not until Pozzi converted with 10:35 left did the Bees get on the board in the second half, but despite this and a third goal from Musoclino, the Chiefs remained out of reach, rarely making mistakes and winning most of the battles for ground balls, just as it had done all afternoon.
Carlie Desimone, a force all season for B’ville, was held to a single assist. Leading Massapequa, Jessica Giller and Bridget Valentine had three goals apiece, Giller adding two assists as Allison Petrullo converted twice.
A day later, in the state Class A final, Massapequa and Section V’s Fairport went to double overtime, but the Red Raiders, who beat B’ville 14-10 earlier this season, prevailed, 10-9, to win its first-ever state title.
The Bees finished at 15-5 overall and will see Desimone, Pozzi, Muscolino, goalie Ava Graham and defender Sophia Ianno graduate, but return Peters, Kelsey Dwyer, Sierra Natoli, Bella Murabito, Lea Otts, Peyton Dyl and Jaya Madigan for the 2024 season.
