LADY KNIGHTS SEND SENIORS OFF IN STYLE-TOP BEES 2-0
Kaysie Gregory (11) fires a shot in close late in the game.
Jeff Pexton-MHTS
You know the fall sports season is heading down the home stretch when flowers, balloons and gift bags can be found intermingled with soccer balls, footballs, tennis rackets and field hockey sticks at the high school sports venues all over Central New York.
Tonight some very nice gifts and flowers were joined by crossed field hockey sticks at RFA Stadium, where the Lady Black Knights said goodbye to seniors Kaysie Gregory, Lindsay D’Aiuto, Rachel Hojnacki and Danielle Famolaro.
Following the festivities, the Lady Knights had business to attend to as the Baldwinsville Bees came to town for a Central New York Counties League contest, with Section III playoff seedings on the line.
The Bees, who entered tonight’s action with a (4-6) overall and a (2-5) mark in the CNYCL, defeated the Lady Knights by a score of 2-1 back on 9/22.
The Romans have amassed a record of (8-2-2) prior to tonight’s game, including a (3-2-2) mark in the division and unbeaten in 6 games since the loss to B’Ville.
Tonight senior Kaysie Gregory and junior Mackenzie Guy scored in the first and second halves respectively and the RFA defense and goaltending were too much for the Bees, as the Lady Knights grabbed a 2-0 home win.
RFA's Lindsay Nowicki (5) matches B'Ville's Paige Corso (2) stride for stride during first half action.
RFA benefited from 11 Penalty Corner’s in the game, as opposed to just 4 for the Bees.
The pressure on the Baldwinsville goal was evident from the get go, as RFA had 6 shots on Bees goaltender Lindsay Farrell before the visitors could put one on RFA goalie Danielle Famolaro.
Gregory’s goal came with 12:32 to go in the first half when the senior, who is headed for Eastern Michigan University next Fall, ripped a low laser through past Farrell to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
RFA went to the first intermission with a 8-2 advantage in shots after the opening half.
The second half saw the intensity level rise from both clubs, maybe a little more from B’Ville, who needs wins to secure a playoff spot.
Despite the offensive improvement by the Bees, including 3 penalty corner’s, it was the Lady Knights who iced the game with 3:38 remaining off a shot from Meghan McCormick, with an assist from McKenzie guy.
Lindsay Farrell stopped 10 shots for B’Ville, while Danielle Famolaro stopped 7 shots in the shutout win. Famolaro has yielded just 7 goals the entire season.
We're Ready....B'Ville goalie Lindsay Farrell (40), Nicole Piontkowski (13) and Mallory Porch (3) await an RFA penalty corner.
RFA improved to (9-2-2) overall, (4-2-2) in the division and on a roll heading into sectional play. Baldwinsville dropped to (4-7, 2-7).
RFA will look for their 10th win of the season on Thursday when they travel to Cicero North Syracuse to take on the Northstars.
Baldwinsville will take on Port Byron on Thursday with hopes of adding one to the win column.
Rome Free Academy 2 Baldwinsville 0
Box Score
1 2 Total
Baldwinsville 0 0 0
RFA 1 1 2
Rome Free Academy Seniors
Lindsay D'Aiuto
Danielle Famolaro
Kaysie Gregory
Rachael Hojnacki
