from Naples News

NAPLES — Even without leading scorer Jamie Lockie, it was more of the same for the Barron Collier girls team as it defeated Hollywood Hills 2-0 Thursday night in Class 5A regional quarterfinal action.

It was the fourth straight year the Spartans have come into Cougar Stadium for a playoff match and the fourth straight time they’ve headed back to the East Coast having been shut out.

With Lockie out because of the flu, Meaghan Barry, who scored one goal all season while usually playing defense, scored the match’s only goals.

Though his team dominated ball possession the entire match to the degree of not allowing the Spartans a shot on goal, Barron coach Ray Morgan was not the most pleased of coaches, despite the victory.

“We controlled the ball but it wasn’t pretty,” Morgan said. “Our possessions were way below par and our passing was horrendous. Our team game fell apart. The girls get so pumped up that they weren’t listening.”

With a little more than 20 minutes gone by in the first half and no score, Cougars forward Hailey Javorsky shot a direct corner kick to Barry in front of the Spartans’ goal. Barry kicked the ball off the left post as Barron missed out on its best scoring opportunity to that point.

Just a minute later, the same scenario unfolded and Barry was able to put Javorsky’s assist past Hollywood goalkeeper Abola Adeoba for a 1-0 lead.

“I misread the ball the first time and had to stretch for it,” said Barry, a junior. “But the second time I was able to get my foot on it and connect. It felt good to finish it.”

The Cougars (20-2) outshot Hollywood 19-0. With a little more than 11 minutes remaining in the match, Adeoba, who had a number of spectacular saves in heavy traffic, was unable to catch up with Barry’s floater from about 19 yards out.

“Meaghan turned it up tonight,” Morgan said. “She always does what’s needed.”

The Spartans (12-11) had their only scoring opportunity near the 25-minute mark of the second half when midfielder Amanda Saccullo had a breakaway but shot wide right.

“It’s always tough against Barron Collier,” said Spartans coach Joe Ambrozik. “They’re an excellent team. But hey, we lost the first two games to them 6-0, then lost 3-0 last year and 2-0 tonight. We’re catching up.”

For the Spartans, Adeoba, who usually plays sweeper, recorded 17 saves in the match.

“She’s an excellent athlete,” Ambrozik said. “No matter where, she always plays great.”

The Cougars advance to Tuesday’s regional semifinal to play Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas, which defeated Fort Myers 4-2 on Thursday. Morgan said he did not know if Lockie, who has 35 goals this year, will be able to play.

“Hopefully, we’ll have Jamie back,” Morgan said. “If not, we’ll go on with what we have.”