Barker rallies to win field hockey semi in OT

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Ciara Gregoire tries to knock the ball away from Akron’s Olivia Diebel during the Lady Raiders overtime sectional win over the Lady Tigers this evening at Clarence High.

Rebounding from a 2-0 half-time deficit, top seeded Barker battled back to nip Niagara-Orleans League rival No. 4 Akron 3-2 in overtime this evening in the Section VI Class C field hockey semifinals at Clarence High School.

Barker will now face No 3 Eden for the Class C title on November 1.  Eden blanked No. 2 Roy-Hart 2-0 in the other semifinal.

Akron’s Alexis Bell battles with Barker’s Erin Costello for control of the ball.

Akron jumped out to the 2-0 lead as Sophia Jones scored with 19:15 remaining and Alexis Bell with 3:11 to go in the opening half.

Barker though came battling back as Rachel Hurtgam first cut the deficit in half with a goal 8 minutes into the second half and and then also netted the equalizer with just 11:47 remaining.

Akron had a flurry of corner opportunities in the final four minutes but could not dent the Barker net.

That set the stage for the 7 on 7 10 minute sudden death overtime period and it didn’t take long for Barker to score the game winner as Ciara Gregoire tallied just 2:15 into the extra period.

The teams had split a pair of 2-1 meetings during the N-O season.

Eden 2, Roy-Hart 0
A goal by Kelsey Pressing just 5:36 into the first half proved to be the game winner for Eden.

It stayed a tight 1-0 game until the final minute when Pressing scored the clincher for the Lady Raiders.

Roy-Hart hit the post with one shot late in the first half and then put steady pressure on throughout the second half, including three corner opportunities, but could not dent the Eden goal.

Roy-Hart’s Sam Choate works the ball up field against Eden defender Dani Thompson.

Roy-Hart’s Abby Ander brings the ball up field as Madison Brown follows the play.