Barker nipped in overtime in regional

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 2 November 2016 at 8:58 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – East Rochester goalie Allie Reynolds makes a diving save against a shot by Barker’s Natalie Menz during the Lady Bombers overtime regional win over the Lady Raiders this evening at Hilton. Madison Gancasz (16), Jillian Moeller (7) and Katrina Clare (20) surround the play for the Lady Raiders awaiting a possible rebound shot opportunity.

A late comeback bid came up just short as Barker dropped a narrow 3-2 overtime decision to East Rochester in the Class C Far West Sub Regional field hockey game this evening at Hilton.

Trailing 2-0, Barker came storming back to score twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation play, both coming off corner opportunities, to send the contest into overtime.

Barker finally got on the scoreboard when Katrina Clare scored with 10:28 remaining in the second half off an assist from Jillian Moeller who started the corner opportunity.

Bolstered by that tally the Lady Raiders kept the pressure on the Lady Bombers goal and finally netted the equalizer with just 1:58 remaining on a shot by Natalie Menz off an assist from Lydia Dewart.

Barker’s Katrina Clare tries to gain control of the ball from East Rochester’s Leah Abrahu.

However, Barker could not gain the lead as East Rochester wasted little time in scoring the game winning as Maddy Walsh scored just 1:38 into the first 7 on 7 10 minute overtime period.

East Rochester also got off to a lightning quick start grabbing a 1-0 lead just 1:49 into the opening half on a goal by Ali Burns.

Barker’s best scoring opportunity of the first half came nine minutes later as the Lady Raiders put two shots on goal off a corner opportunity but came up empty. It was a hectic flurry that saw Lady Bombers goalie Allie Reynolds dive to make a big save.

Given a big lift by that defensive stand, the East Rochester offense doubled its advantage to 2-0 when Burns scored again just two minutes later at the 17:56 mark.

Barker got one more corner opportunity in the half but Reynolds came up with the save to stymie the threat.

The Lady Raiders then had only one corner opportunity over the first 20 minutes of the second half but put together a huge rally over the final 10 minutes getting goals by Clare and Menz to force overtime.

Barker advanced to the Sub Regional by outlasting Niagara-Orleans League rival Akron 1-0 in a shootout in the Section VI Class C championship game.

East Rochester earned an automatic berth as the Lady Bombers are the only Class C team in Section V.

It marked the 13th time that Barker and East Rochester have met in the regional since 2001. The Lady Bombers now hold a 10-3 lead in the series.

East Rochester next faces the Section III champion in the Far West Regional on Saturday at Cicero North Syracuse.