Orchard Farm Beats Winfield, 4-2

ORCHARD FARM - Orchard Farm junior striker Brooke Burckhardt and her teammates are flying high these days.    

"I feel like I'm in the middle of a dream," she said. "A dream I never want to end."    

The Eagles added one more chapter to a school-record campaign by knocking off Winfield 4-2 on Tuesday night in a Class 1 Sectional contest at Luxembourg Field. Orchard Farm (16-7) moves into the Elite Eight for the first time in school history and will face John F. Kennedy (12-10) on the road Saturday. The winner advances to the state tournament June 3-4.    

The Eagles beat JFK 4-0 and 3-2 during the regular season.    

Burckhardt scored the biggest goal of the contest and maybe the entire season. Her rocket from inside the box off a perfect corner kick from senior Andrea Liston broke a 2-2 tie in the 56th minute. Sophomore Meghan Boschert had two goals and junior sniper Alexis Robbers scored her 27th marker of the season on a penalty kick to lead a well-balanced attack.    

But it was Burckhardt's 23rd tally of the season that sent the wild Eagles' fans into a frenzy. Liston, who has a team-high 19 assists, sent the ball right onto the right foot of Burckhardt, who blasted it past Winfield keeper Abby Jordan, who happens to be Burckhardt's cousin.    

"She just put it right in the middle like she normally goes," Burckhardt said. "The ball was right where it was supposed to be and I hit it off my shoelaces."    

Liston, who was spent the entire season setting up the Eagles' two 20-goal scores, takes pride in her passing skills.    

"I'd rather have an assist than a goal any time," she said.    

It was Liston's play that changed the entire complexion of the game.    

"Whenever I put it there, someone is always there to put it in," Liston said. "They always find a way to score."    

The goal helped the Eagles break open a tightly-played see-saw contest. Boschert, who has caught fire the second half of the season, coverted on a nice pass from Burckhardt to give Orchard Farm a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.    

Winfield junior Nicole Schuler tied the match late in the first half. Robbers converted on a penalty kick in the first minute of the second half to break the tie. Again, the Warriors (14-10-1) rallied. Sarah Entrwistle scored two minutes later to tie the game.    

Boschert added an insurance goal with three minutes left. Burckhardt broke free on the right wing and blasted a shot of the right goal post. The ball bounced right to Boschert, who easily popped it into the open net.   

"It was a nerve-wracking game," Boschert said. "We just kept working hard and it worked out."   

Orchard Farm coach Brandon Cox was pleased with his team's play, especially in the second half. The Eagles outshot Winfield 18-8 and controlled play at times.   

"We started passing the ball much better through the middle," he said. "We were able to open things up."   

Winfield coach Jim Gorski felt his team more than held its own.   

"Overall, this game was as close a game as it could have been," he said. "We just kept having to fight from behind."   

The win helped the Eagles avenge a 2-1 loss to Winfield on April 14. Orchard Farm won its first nine games before the Warriors ruined the dream of a perfect season.   

 The Eagles continue to make history with every step. Burckhardt says there is no reason this run can't continue.    

"There is no drama on this team," she noted. "We all love each other."    

That chemistry has played a key role in the record-setting run.    

"There are a talented group," said Cox. "Everybody is definitely playing together."