Barker nips Medina; Akron downs Roy-Hart in Class C field hockey semifinals

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Mia Herman drives the ball up field against Medina defender Alex Strong during the Lady Raiders sectional win over the Mustangs this evening at Williamsville North.

A lone second period goal proved to be enough to earn No. 2 seed Barker a narrow 1-0 win over No. 3 Medina in a Section VI Class C semifinal round field hockey playoff game this evening at Williamsville North.

In the other semifinal, top seeded Akron downed No. 5 Roy-Hart 7-0.

Akron and Barker will now meet for the Class C title at 6 p.m. next Tuesday at Williamsville North.

Roy-Hart’s Justine Laverty works to keep the ball away from the Akron duo of Alexandra Roland and Laicy Karczewski.

It will mark the 13th time in the last 20 years that the Lady Tigers and Lady Raiders have met for the sectional title. Barker holds a 9-3 edge in those meetings though Akron took a 3-0 victory last year. It will also mark the 19th time in 20 years that Barker has advanced to the final.

Rachel Sutter scored the Barker goal with 5:05 remaining in the second period off a scramble in front of the net. The goal was the eighth of the season for Sutter who ironically also scored the Lady Raiders lone goal in the Niagara-Orleans League season opening 1-0 win over Medina.

In fact, all three meetings between the Lady Raiders and Mustangs this season were decided by one goal as Medina won the rematch 3-2 in overtime.

Medina goalie Arianna Bloom made several big saves to keep the Mustangs in the game.

Akron broke its semifinal contest open early jumping out to a 4-0 first quarter lead on two goals each by Olivia McClaine and Lacey Berghorn.

The Lady Tigers led 6-0 at the half.

Medina goalie Arianna Bloom makes the save on a shot by Barker’s Alexa Zglinicki.