Lady Raiders to face familiar foe in Regional

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker players and coaches, shown here celebrating after Tuesday’s Section VI Class C championship win, will now face East Rochester in the Far West Regional at 11 a.m. Saturday at Williamsville North.

Fresh from capturing a second straight Section VI Class C field hockey title, Barker will next face a very familiar foe in the Far West Regional as the Lady Raiders take on Section V representative East Rochester at 11 a.m. Saturday at Williamsville North.

This is the 15th time since 2001 that Barker has advanced to the regionals and the Lady Raiders opponent every time has been East Rochester which is the lone Section V Class C field hockey team.

Barker nipped East Rochester 4-3 in overtime last year and the Lady Raiders hold a 4-3 edge over the Lady Bombers in meetings since 2010. However, overall ER holds a 10-4 advantage in the 14 meetings since 2001.

Saturday’s victor will advance to the state semifinals against the winner of the Taconic Hills (Section IX) vs. Bronxville (Section 1) regional. The state semis and finals will also be held at Williamsville North on Nov. 16 and 17.

Barker, which brings a 16-3 record into the regional, has advanced by posting three straight shutout wins in the Section VI playoffs. The top seeded Lady Raiders blanked No. 8 Newfane 6-0 in the quarterfinals, No. 4 Roy-Hart 2-0 in the semifinals and No. 6 Eden 4-0 in the championship game.

Offensively the Lady Raiders have been led by Katrina Clare with 18 goals and 17 assists, Ciara Gregoire (15-2) and Rachel Hurtgam (11-7). Ginger Alexander has added 9 goals, Emily Wagner 6, Madison Gancasz, Natalie Bruning and Ella Gooding 4 each, Serena Harris 3, Ella Fox 2 and Lena Fazzolari and Brianna Bachman 1 each.