VERONA – All season long, the Baldwinsville field hockey team was aware of the fact that any hope to climb back to the top of the area Class A ranks involved solving, and then matching, defending champion Cicero-North Syracuse.

In three attempts, though, the Bees were never able to solve the Northstars, only netting one goal in 180 minutes of action, including a 3-0 defeat in Tuesday’s Section III Class A semifinal at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill.

Having just watched no. 2 seed Rome Free Academy rally three different times in a wild 5-4 win over Liverpool in the first semifinal, B’ville now battled C-NS, who had prevailed 1–0 and 4-1 in their two regular-season encounters.

Whatever attempts the Bees made to establish itself, though, were quickly thwarted, the Northstars getting on the board early and establishing its winning three-goal margin by halftime.

C-NS saw three different players convert as Gabby Wameling, Paige Pangaro and Isabel Normanly all earned goals and Addie Esce added an assist.

Rarely did the ball get out of the Bees’ end, and though B’ville goalie Chloe Butler did make nine saves, she could not help relieve pressure that C-NS applied until its return to the sectional final was secure.

Just six seniors were on this year’s 7-11 roster, including Ella Holtman, Ninah Roux, Ava Hettler, Raegyn Wells, Olivia Harkola and Julia Schultz. With a large amount of returning players in 2024 hardened by this year’s experience, B’ville is well-positioned to return to championship contention.