SYRACUSE - The Auburn boys lacrosse team hadn't forgotten about Baldwinsville.
On April 23, the Bees booted the Maroons from first place in the CNYCL National League with a 12-7 drubbing at Holland Stadium. In the loss, Auburn was out-played in nearly every facet of the game.
“I think we realized at the time we weren't as prepared as we should have been,” Auburn defenseman Ryan Button said. “We knew it was going to be a different kind of game this time.”
And he was right.
Auburn was the aggressor from the opening face-off, as its defense smothered the Bees for a 6-4 victory in the Section III, Class A semifinals at Coyne Field in Syracuse, Tuesday. The win gives Auburn its most wins in school history (17-3) and the opportunity to play West Genesee for the sectional crown at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
“We're not done,” Button said. “We can't get too high on ourselves right now.” Earlier in the season, the Maroons knocked off the powerhouse Wildcats for the first time in school history. Tomorrow, Auburn will try to make some more history, by claiming the sectional championship for the first time since 2001, when they defeated Liverpool 10-6.
Against Baldwinsville, the Maroons set the tone early, cutting off the seams at the defensive end and forcing the Bees to make careless turnovers.
“(Defensive coaches) Mike Losani and Matt Smith had a great game plan and the kids did a good job of executing it,” Auburn head coach Steve Crosby said.
“We wanted to go after them right from the beginning,” Smith said. “Ryan Button played great, he had a huge game shutting down their best players. It was a total defensive effort. We were right in their face the whole game.”
Baldwinsville faced a 4-0 deficit before it found the net with 6:37 remaining in the second period. Auburn forced the Bees to play sloppy in the first half - it seemed as though every Baldwinsville possession was two passes and a turnover.
Auburn's defense was so locked in, it didn't allow the Bees to get off a shot in two first half man-up situations.
“Baldwinsville is a talented team - you've got to execute if you're going to cool them down,” Crosby said.
The Maroons led 5-1 at the half, courtesy of Connor Entenmann (two goals), Matt Hoey, Bob Brannigan and Andrew Chadderdon.
But the Bees came out more aggressive in the second half and edged closer, 5-3, on unanswered goals by sophomore Evan Styer.
Auburn didn't get the shots it did early in the game, but once again its defense kept the contest close while the offense worked to find the seams.
The Maroons' only goal of the second half came off the stick of Mike Fandrich early in the fourth period, and the Auburn defense took it from there, holding the Bees shotless over the final two-plus minutes.
“I think that says something about this team,” Button said. “We didn't score as much this time against (Baldwinsville) but our defense was able to step up. We've proven we can win with offense or with defense. We can win in high-scoring games or in low-scoring games.”
Auburn's defensive unit of Button, Brendan Lewis, Matt Clancy, Brendan O'Connor, Anthony Adams and Chris Clifford was a force against the Bees, while goalie Kevin Dyer racked up 11 saves.
Fandrich and Sean Hogan provided assists.
Mike Tesorio did a good job on face-offs, as the Maroons led 7-6.
Baldwinsville had the advantage in shots (29-25) and ground balls (39-31) but Auburn controlled nearly every aspect of play from beginning to end.
“I think we have unlimited potential,” Button said. “We've just got to keep our heads and keep rolling.”
Maroons 6
Bees 4
“I think we realized at the time we weren't as prepared as we should have been,” Auburn defenseman Ryan Button said. “We knew it was going to be a different kind of game this time.”
And he was right.
Auburn was the aggressor from the opening face-off, as its defense smothered the Bees for a 6-4 victory in the Section III, Class A semifinals at Coyne Field in Syracuse, Tuesday. The win gives Auburn its most wins in school history (17-3) and the opportunity to play West Genesee for the sectional crown at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
“We're not done,” Button said. “We can't get too high on ourselves right now.” Earlier in the season, the Maroons knocked off the powerhouse Wildcats for the first time in school history. Tomorrow, Auburn will try to make some more history, by claiming the sectional championship for the first time since 2001, when they defeated Liverpool 10-6.
Against Baldwinsville, the Maroons set the tone early, cutting off the seams at the defensive end and forcing the Bees to make careless turnovers.
“(Defensive coaches) Mike Losani and Matt Smith had a great game plan and the kids did a good job of executing it,” Auburn head coach Steve Crosby said.
“We wanted to go after them right from the beginning,” Smith said. “Ryan Button played great, he had a huge game shutting down their best players. It was a total defensive effort. We were right in their face the whole game.”
Baldwinsville faced a 4-0 deficit before it found the net with 6:37 remaining in the second period. Auburn forced the Bees to play sloppy in the first half - it seemed as though every Baldwinsville possession was two passes and a turnover.
Auburn's defense was so locked in, it didn't allow the Bees to get off a shot in two first half man-up situations.
“Baldwinsville is a talented team - you've got to execute if you're going to cool them down,” Crosby said.
The Maroons led 5-1 at the half, courtesy of Connor Entenmann (two goals), Matt Hoey, Bob Brannigan and Andrew Chadderdon.
But the Bees came out more aggressive in the second half and edged closer, 5-3, on unanswered goals by sophomore Evan Styer.
Auburn didn't get the shots it did early in the game, but once again its defense kept the contest close while the offense worked to find the seams.
The Maroons' only goal of the second half came off the stick of Mike Fandrich early in the fourth period, and the Auburn defense took it from there, holding the Bees shotless over the final two-plus minutes.
“I think that says something about this team,” Button said. “We didn't score as much this time against (Baldwinsville) but our defense was able to step up. We've proven we can win with offense or with defense. We can win in high-scoring games or in low-scoring games.”
Auburn's defensive unit of Button, Brendan Lewis, Matt Clancy, Brendan O'Connor, Anthony Adams and Chris Clifford was a force against the Bees, while goalie Kevin Dyer racked up 11 saves.
Fandrich and Sean Hogan provided assists.
Mike Tesorio did a good job on face-offs, as the Maroons led 7-6.
Baldwinsville had the advantage in shots (29-25) and ground balls (39-31) but Auburn controlled nearly every aspect of play from beginning to end.
“I think we have unlimited potential,” Button said. “We've just got to keep our heads and keep rolling.”
Maroons 6
Bees 4
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