ONONDAGA COUNTY – Having shown a fair amount of improvement through the early stages of the 2023 season, the Baldwinsville boys soccer team did not let the crowded nature of its schedule affect the quality of its performances.
Starting with a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sept. 9, the Bees would play four times in six days, culminating in a showdown against Fayetteville-Manlius at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.
This night would belong to B’ville, who blanked the Hornets 2-0 behind Ian Price’s pair of goals. Will Stevens and Alec Smith picked up assists, and the Bees’ defense smothered F-M, limiting it to just four shots, all stopped by Nick Holliingshead.
Looking to build momentum for the F-M game, B’ville won back-to-back games early in the week, starting with a 6-1 romp over PSLA-Fowler and continuing when it beat West Genesee 3-1.
Against the Falcons, the Bees did most of its damage in a first-half scoring blitz, ultimately seeing five different players convert.
Only Owen Daly scored twice, adding an assist, with Greg Ramin getting a goal and two assists. Stevens had one goal and one assist as Michael Sacco and Jonah McMullen also found the net and Price got two assists. Patrick Smith added an assist.
As for West Genesee, a Class AA sectional finalist a season ago, B’ville ignored the rain and a natural-grass surface and controlled matters, never trailing and defeating the Wildcats 3-1.
The Bees netted the only goal of the first half, and doubled that production in the late going despite WG getting on the board.
All the while, Price led the way, landing a pair of goals. Stevens had the other goals, with Hollingshead earning an assist from his goalie spot and Andrew Jung also getting an assist.
Back on Tuesday, B’ville’s girls soccer team was overwhelmed at home by West Genesee 5-0, held to just three shots overall. Alyssa Luce had six saves, but the Wildcats got two goals from Chelsea Donaldson and two assists from Marissa Closson, with single tallies earned by Maria Snyder, Ellie McMahon and Anna Nelson.
Going to Liverpool two nights later, the Bees would turn it around, pulling out a 1-0 overtime victory when Kelsey Dwyer, in the second OT, put a shot past Warriors goalie Grace Sleeth.
W
ell-protected by a ferocious B’ville defense, Luce only had to make four saves as the girls Bees has its own games this week against West Genesee and Cicero-North Syracuse, while the boys visit Central Square and Nottingham.
