Barlow Field Hockey Defeats Fermi In OT, 2-1

Senior co-captain Katherine Acocella scored four minutes into overtime Friday, lifting the sixth-seeded Barlow field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over No. 11 Fermi of Enfield in the first round of the CIAC Class M state tournament.

Acocella drilled home the game-winner off passes from fellow senior co-captain Brittany Lofgren and Samantha Macchio to send the Falcons into the quarterfinals.

Barlow controlled play throughout the match, but could not find the cage due to the solid goaltending of Fermi senior Kayleigh Shaughnessy, who continued to turn back Falcons' attacks into overtime. 

Senior co-captain Anne Dolan, at center mid, controlled direction for the Barlow attack and was supported on the outside by sophomores Kerianne Gibney, Emma O'Leary and Isabelle Benedetto and on the inside by a solid Izzy Hermantin.

The Falcons frustrated the visitors from end to end and on the few occasions Fermi was able to break through the midfield, it was met by the stone wall of seniors Erin Sullivan and Rose Fenwick, along with junior Colleen Yost in support of standout junior Samantha Scavo in goal.

Late in regulation, Acocella took the ball from the outside on a breakaway on route to the goal when Shaughnessy came out of goal to meet the attack while smothering the ball.

The goalkeeper penalty resulted in a stroke to the upper corner by Macchio in what appeared to be the game-winner with only five minutes left in the match as Barlow took a 1-0 lead.

Fermi refused to back down and with only seconds left in the match, broke the Barlow plain with a corner shot that was deflected into the air, allowing the Fermi forwards to converge for a tap in to knot the score and send the game to overtime.

The teams were reduced to 7 v 7 players in the first overtime and despite several Barlow runs, the team failed to make good on several attacks and the first overtime ended tied.

Barlow would not be denied as Lofgren stole the ball at midfield four minutes into the second overtime and found Macchio. She passed on to Acocella, who beat the goalie as the Falcons move on to the second round to face third seeded Avon, 6-0 winners over 14th-seeded Waterford. The match will be played on Monday in Avon.

Barlow last faced the perennial power two years ago in the first round of the CIAC's when Avon came away with a sudden death win at penalty strokes, and the Falcons look forward to gaining revenge.

"We really deserved this game," Acocella said. "We played hard throughout the game and the seniors just aren't ready for this to end. This is a great team and today was a total team effort."