Lady Raiders return large veteran group

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 September 2017 at 10:35 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – Leading the Barker field hockey team into the upcoming season is this group of returnees. In front are Jillian Moeller, Natalie Menz and Sarah Mason. In back are Lena Fazzolari, Haleigh Mason, Ciara Gregoire and Katrina Mason. Missing from the photo are Casey A’Hearn, Cara Fox and Haley Brown.

A large contingent of over a dozen returnees form a good nucleus for the Barker field hockey squad as the Lady Raiders prep for the Niagara-Orleans League season.

Senior Casey A’Hearn, who earned second team N-O All-League honors last season, along with seniors Jillian Moeller and Natalie Menz and sophomores Ciara Gregoire and Katrina Clare, who all received Honorable Mention, head that veteran group which also includes seniors Sarah Mason, Haley Brown, Abigail Ignatowski, Cara Fox, Grace Harris; juniors Erin Costello and Paige Sandolfini; sophomores Rachel Hurtgan and Haleigh Mason and freshmen Madison Gancasz andLena Fazzolari.

“Our numbers are down a bit this year but we’ve got a lot of seniors and a lot of veteran experience,” said Coach Jeff Costello whose Lady Raiders captured the Section VI Class C title last fall.

Barker, which went 9-3 in N-O competition last fall, hosts Newfane in the league opener on Tuesday and then visits defending champion Akron on Thursday.

The Lady Raiders schedule will also be highlighted by a trip to Pennsylvania to face large school Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair on September 15 and 16.

Schedule
September: 5 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 7 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 12 – Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 15 – at Mt. Lebanon, Pa., 6:30 p.m.; 16 – at Upper St. Clair, Pa., 11 a.m.; 18 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 19 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 21 – at Kenmore, 4:45 p.m.; 25 – at Nichols, 4 p.m.; 26 – Sacred Heart, 4:45 p.m.; 28 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.

October: 3 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 5 – at Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 12 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – Kenmore, 5 p.m.