Barker has youthful field hockey squad; Akron returns a veteran laden team

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 September 2021 at 10:32 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – The Barker field hockey team’s veteran group includes, in front, Mia Herman, Ashlin Cole, Aaliyah Wheat, MacKenzie Dodge and Addison Szafranski. In back are Rachel Sutter, Anna Bowerman, Alexa Zglinicki, Macie May and Kaedynce Schumacher.

The accent is on youth for the Barker varsity field hockey team which is prepping to defend its Niagara-Orleans League co-championship which the Lady Raiders shared with Akron last fall.

Kaedynce Schumacher is the lone senior on the squad which is being coached this season by Karin Menz and Aileen Hinton.

The Lady Raiders also return experience in juniors Mia Herman, Ashlin Cole, Aaliyah Wheat, MacKenzie Dodge and Alexa Zglinicki along with sophomores Addison Szafranski, Rachel Sutter, Anna Bowerman and Macie May.

Cole earned first team N-O All-League honors last season while Herman was a second team pick and Schumacher and Wheat Honorable Mention selections.

The Lady Raiders graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honorees Lena Fazzolari and Madison Gancasz, second team picks Natalie Bruning and Ella Gooding and Honorable Mention selection Courtney Hillman.

Barker, which shared the N-O title with Akron last fall at 11-1, will open the league campaign this Friday at Medina at 4 p.m.

Akron returns 9 All-League honorees

Akron will begin its N-O co-championship title defense at Medina on September 8 with a veteran laden squad.

The Lady Tigers return a trio of first team N-O All-League honorees including senior Jenelle Kieffer and juniors Lacey Berghorn and Madison Brege. Berghorn, who scored 32 goals, and Brege, who netted 12, both also earned All-Western New York honors.

Akron also returns three second team All-League picks in seniors Laicy Karczewski, Emerson Polkowski and Alexandra Roland along with a trio of Honorable Mention elections including juniors Isabella Jones and Sophia Jones and sophomore Olivia McClaine.

Akron will host Barker on September 13. The Lady Tigers will then visit the Lady Raiders on October 7.