Barrington wins field hockey state championship in OT

Eagles defeat East Greenwich, 2-1

The Eagles celebrate a goal by Maddy Cox (right).

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Eagles forwards Lilyanne Dunphy (left) and Alexy Carolyn watch as a shot by Maddy Cox slides into the goal.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Eagles celebrate from left, Lily Gagliano, Lillyanne Dunphy and Alexy Carolyn after teammate Maddy Cox scored to knot the game at 1-1.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Alexy Carolyn looks on as goalkeeper Caleigh Durkin blocks a shot off of an Avenger corner.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Lily Gagliano makes a play on the ball.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Claudia Kriz blocks a shot (left) to keep the game scoreless in the first half with Durkin looking on.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Goalkeeper Caleigh Durkin readies for a shot while teammate Clare Gaffney hits the ball out of the goal area.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Elizabeth Lewis looks to end the game as she takes a hack at the ball while being pushed down by an Avenger in overtime.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

The Eagles celebrate with the D-I trophy.

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr q

Photos by Richard W Dionne Jr

EastBayRI.com · Monday, October 31, 2016 1:30 am

By Josh Bickford

The Barrington High School field hockey team captured the Division I state championship on Sunday, Oct. 30, defeating East Greenwich 2-1 in overtime.

Barrington trailed 1-0 early in the second half, but Eagles' sophomore Maddy Cox knotted the score at 1-1 with 20 minutes remaining. In overtime, Cox slid a pass to her teammate and fellow sophomore Elizabeth Lewis, who pushed the ball past East Greenwich goalie Jessica Imbriglio and into the back of the net.

Eagles players sprinted to Lewis and fans jumped out of the bleachers and onto the field celebrating the victory.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Lewis, following the game. "I think we have what it takes to be champions. We have the desire to win and will do anything for it."

Barrington coach Holly Morris said she was very proud of her team, which took the field with a number of underclassmen. The Eagles, who defeated Moses Brown in the semifinals, had just one senior (captain Lily Gagliano) in the starting lineup for Sunday's state championship game.

"All season long this team has had some major guts and a lot of heart," Morris said.

Barrington and East Greenwich traded scoring chances in the first half, but neither team could convert the opportunities into goals. Cox had a nice scoring try turned aside at the start of the second half, as the Eagles mounted an impressive offensive attack.

But it was East Greenwich that scored first, as Sophia Valicenti knocked in a goal at about the 25 minute mark.

Barrington was awarded a corner with about 20 minutes remaining and Cox made the most of the opportunity. The sophomore slapped a hard shot, which the EG goalie kicked back to her. Given a second chance, Cox made it count and buried the ball in the back of the goal.

East Greenwich nearly grabbed the win toward the end of regulation, but the Eagles survived the attack. In the extra period, Barrington maintained control of the ball in the midfield and continually fed the forwards. With about 7 minutes remaining, Cox, Gagliano and Lewis put pressure on the Avengers' defense and eventually Lewis put in the game-winner.

"This team has a ton of heart," said Morris.