Akron and Barker set to renew field hockey rivalry in sectional title contest

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Akron’s Sydney Leeds, left, and Akron’s Natalie Menz and their teammates will meet for the Section VI Class C title on Thursday at Amherst.

Over the past dozen years Akron and Barker have not only been keen field hockey rivals in the Niagara-Orleans League title race but also in the battle for the Section VI Class C title.

That rivalry will be renewed on Thursday when top seeded Akron and No. 2 Barker collide again for the Class C championship at 3:30 p.m. at Amherst.

It will mark the seventh time in eight years and the ninth in the last 13 seasons that the two have met in the championship game.

Barker has won all eight of those previous meetings including a narrow 2-1 victory last year. In fact, since the 2002 season, Barker has won 11 of 13 Class C titles including the last seven in a row.

Akron is seeking its first sectional title since 1995 when the Lady Tigers ironically defeated Barker 1-0 in the finals.

The teams split a pair of N-O meetings this year with Akron winning the first 1-0 and Barker the second 3-2 in overtime. Akron claimed the N-O crown with a 11-1 record as Barker finished in the runner-up spot at 10-1-1 as the result of an early season 1-1 tie with Wilson.

Akron advanced to the finals by defeating Medina 5-0 in the quarterfinals and Eden 2-0 in the semis. Barker blanked Holland in the quarterfinals and Wilson in the semis by the identical score of 3-0.

The Akron offense has been led this season by Sarah Schultz with 19 goals an 9 assists, Heather Cummings 16 goals and Abby Stone 7 goals and 11 assists.

For Barker, Rebecca Stoloski has scored 10 goals as Erin Greenwald, Lydia Dewart and Natalie Menz have each netted 5.

The winner will advance to the Far West Regional against Section V representative East Rochester on Saturday.