Lady Raiders roll in Class C semifinal
Taking charge with a big second quarter scoring burst No. 2 seed defending champion Barker went on to defeat No. 3 Roy-Hart 6-2 in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class C field hockey playoffs this morning at Wilson.
Leading by a narrow 2-1 margin, Barker broke the contest wide open with three unanswered second quarter goals.
Addison Szafranski ignited the uprising with a goal just 3:30 into the quarter off a corner opportunity as Madison Gancasz earned the assist.
Natalie Bruning then scored on a rebound shot at the 5:58 mark and Rachel Sutter followed up with a goal with 1:15 remaining to give the Lady Raiders a commanding 5-1 lead at the half.
“That was good.”said Barker Coach Jeff Costello of the Lady Raiders big offensive uprising.
Roy-Hart did cut the deficit to 5-2 when Lexiss Diel scored eight minutes into the third quarter.
However, Barker got that one back three minutes later when Gancasz scored off a corner started by Ashlin Cole as Lena Fazzolari earned the assist.
Barker also got off to a quick start grabbing a 2-0 lead in the game’s first seven minutes.
Bruning opened the scoring off a corner opportunity started by Cole as Fazzolari again picked up the assist just 1:20 into the game. Kaedynce Schumacher followed up with a goal five minutes later.
Roy-Hart did pull to within 2-1 on a goal by Rebecca Berner off a corner with 6:51 to go in the quarter but the Lady Rams would get no closer.
Barker had trimmed Roy-Hart twice during the Niagara-Orleans League season by the identical score of 2-1 with the second meeting going to a shootout.
Improving to 12-1 Barker will now play in the Class C title game on Monday at a site and time to be announced against the winner of the No. 1 Akron vs. No. 4 Eden semifinals which is scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Alden.
Roy-Hart finishes the season at 7-5-1.