Every team needs a hero once in awhile.
Tonight, for Barker, it was Natalie Bruning.
With 20 seconds to go in the game, Barker and Eden in a 1-1 tie, Bruning put home the game winner to help the Lady Raiders claim the Section VI Championship.
The game, played in a continuous downpour, was a back-and-forth affair from start to finish.
Coming out of halftime down 1-0, Barker scored the equalizer, courtesy of Katrina Clare (assisted by Ciara Gregoire), with just under 15 minutes to go.
“We started slow again today but they were able to get some sustained time in the Eden end of the field, and finally get into their circle in the second half. And once the girls did that, you could feel things swinging our way. Hard work and getting players pushed up into their circle forced the corners we got and Katrina gave us a real shot in the arm with her goal to tie it, ” said Barker coach Jeff Costello.
The next fifteen minutes would see both teams gaining opportunities in the offensive end but it was Barker that pushed the ball upfield entering the last minute.
After a scrum in front of the net, the ball found Bruning who promptly took advantage and scored the go-ahead goal.
“Natalie Bruning made the most of her opportunity late by netting the winner with 20 seconds left. They just kept working hard. They did it in dramatic fashion, again. I’m so happy for these 18 players!”
For Eden, it was a bitter-sweet finish. They made it through 2nd seed Roy-Hart last week and had an opportunity at the end to force OT against Barker.
“It’s always disappointing to lose in the last minute of a game,” said Eden coach Phil Archabald, “but sometimes that’s just how it goes. I will say this.. I’ve never been prouder of my team for the way they fought the entire game.”
Barker will now head to Regionals (played at Penfield HS) to square off with East Rochester @ 7pm.
field hockey