Makena Lee’s Long-Range Brilliance Not Enough as Baldwin Draws 2–2 at Hill School

On a cool October afternoon at The Hill School, the Baldwin School Polar Bears did everything but finish.

Despite dominating long stretches of play and unleashing a barrage of second-half attacks, Baldwin was forced to settle for a frustrating 2–2 draw in a non-league clash Wednesday with the Hill School Blues — a result that left players and coaches shaking their heads at what could’ve been.

The Bears, now 8–5–1, outshot Hill 12–6 and hit the woodwork four times, including three crossbars in the second half alone. Yet it was Hill that capitalized on two rare defensive miscues in the opening half, punishing Baldwin for lapses in concentration.

“We worked a lot on finishing in the attacking third at our last practice,” Baldwin head coach Adrian Cox said postgame. “Soccer can be cruel sometimes, and today we just weren’t clinical and poised enough near the goal to put our chances away.”

The cruelty arrived early. Midway through the first half, Hill broke the deadlock in a moment of misfortune for the visitors. A driven cross from the right wing took an awkward deflection off a Baldwin defender and spun past the helpless keeper for an own goal.

But junior striker and co-captain Makena Lee has made a habit of turning games on their head — often from distance. With five minutes left in the half, Lee struck a thunderous equalizer from 30 yards, a rising rocket that left the Hill goalkeeper flat-footed.

Lee’s goal, her 17th of the season, seemed to steady the Bears, who had already created a handful of breakaway chances. Yet they would go into the break trailing 2–1 after failing to clear a corner kick in the dying seconds of the half. A scramble in the box ended with the ball bundled over the line — another defensive breakdown punished to full effect.

“It was disappointing to be down at halftime because we really felt we had the better chances,” Cox said. “But I was proud of the response.”

The second half was one-way traffic. Baldwin poured forward with urgency, tactical flexibility, and belief — hallmarks of Cox’s coaching identity. Lee again took matters into her own hands, unleashing another 30-yard stunner that dipped just over the Hill keeper’s reach to draw the Bears level.

Now with 18 goals on the season, Lee’s performance was emblematic of Baldwin’s relentless push — but also of their frustration.

The Bears rattled the crossbar three times in the second half and struck the post once more. The Hill defense bent repeatedly but somehow didn’t break. Baldwin played with intensity and creativity but lacked the final touch, the final bounce, the final inch.

“We moved a lot of players around to get the result and everyone stepped up,” Cox said. “I’m proud of how the team adjusted and fought. That second half was intense and we need to play like that for the entire game.”

The draw stings not because of effort but because the win was there — waiting to be taken. Still, the Bears won’t have to wait long to respond. They return to action Thursday for a crucial league match at home against Notre Dame.

“Sometimes it’s good to get a game right away after a performance like today,” Cox added. “We’ll use the lessons learned at Hill and be ready to score, defend, and come away with a positive result.”

For Baldwin, Wednesday was a reminder of soccer’s fine margins. For Makena Lee, it was another day of brilliance. For the Bears, the work continues — and the ceiling remains high.

Next Up: Baldwin hosts Notre Dame on Thursday, Oct. 16 in league play.