PLAYOFFS: B-CC 4, Churchill 0

By Calvin Cobb


After days of rain, the skies cleared and on a pleasant but cool October 28th evening at B-CC, the Lady Barons overcame a wet field and the Churchill Bulldogs to advance to the second round of the 2009 playoffs, prevailing 4-0.

The first half was characterized by the Barons possessing the ball, but not quite being able to complete their passes with enough regularity to control the play. Churchill was not able to sustain any offensive pressure, but was able to fill the passing lanes and break up the Barons’ offensive rhythm. The Bulldogs did manage two or three quick forays down the field and managed one or two serious scoring threats. But on the other end, the Barons earned a dozen penalty corners and had a number of quality scoring chances, many barely thwarted by the Bulldogs goaltender’s acrobatic saves and goal-line stands by Bulldog defenders.

The Barons appeared to open the scoring early in the game when Meredith Storm made a perfect insert to Sunny Cobb, who blew the ball past the Bulldog goaltender from the top of the circle. But the goal was disallowed and the score remained tied. The Barons finally broke through on a penalty corner, when Storm knocked in a rebound with about ten minutes left in the first half. The half ended with the Barons leading 1-0.

The second half was more of the same – the Barons dominating possession, earning penalty corners, getting shots, but failing to score. The Bulldogs managed to get the ball into the Barons circle and forced goaltender Lauren Serpan to make three big saves. The lone Bulldog penalty corner resulted in what appeared to be the tying goal – but the goal was disallowed and the score remained 1-0. A timeout by Coach Amy Woods and some enthusiastic constructive criticism seemed to breathe life into the Barons offense; as a team the Barons started letting the ball do the work and completing passes in series. Jenn Dewey finished a penalty corner, lifting the ball half-way up the net to beat a laid-out and supine Bulldog goaltender to make it 2-0. Storm then tapped in her her second goal of the game. Kelsey Kiser made it 4-0 by out-working the crowd in front, converting a pass from Cobb.

The Barons finished with 22 penalty corners, to 1 for the Bulldogs, and all of the corners but 3 ended up with strong shots on goal. Dewey and Storm earned Amy’s Apple.

The score did not reflect the many offensive opportunities the Barons earned for themselves. Cobb had multiple shots on corners, including a powerful waist-high push shot that was turned aside by the goaltender. Rachel Ruda had a great scoring chance, Ruth Andrews and Charlotte Kettler had close calls, as did Paige Donnelly and Danielle Harkaway. The Bulldogs did a good job of packing the circle and working to keep the ball out of the goal – no fewer than five saves were made at the goal line by Bulldog defenders. But the Barons’ offensive machine broke through in the end. The only cause for concern was defensive – the Barons did not perform well on the only Bulldog corner and have not had to withstand the type of constant pressure inside their circle that is likely to be a part of the next few games. Hopefully when it comes they will be able to rise to the challenge.