Barstow slips into state semis

One goal would guarantee the win and advance Barstow to its first semifinal game in school history. Sloan scored that goal, giving the Knights a 1-0 victory over LeBlond, 12-7, at Tiger Stadium in Excelsior Springs on Thursday.

“(The opposing goalkeeper) played it well,” Sloan said. “She did everything right. I just slid it under her. It was just luck. It’s nice to do it.”

Thursday’s goal was Sloan’s 30th of the season, the most in school history. Not too bad for a freshman.

“She’s very dangerous,” Barstow coach Scott Huppe said. “She gets a lot of assists, she can create things.”

Barstow beat LeBlond 2-1 on March 31. That game was decided on penalty kicks, which Barstow won 5-4. Thursday’s game appeared headed there after 80 minutes of scoreless play in regulation and a 15-minute scoreless overtime period.

Overtime periods in the playoffs are 15 minutes, instead of the 10 for the regular season.

“It’s just something about that team,” Huppe said. “They always battle. The last two games we played against them went to penalty kicks. You don’t want a trip to state decided on penalty kicks.”

Barstow, 12-9-1, was missing two players — starter Cassidy Rudman and first sub Ellen Babbett — on Thursday. Huppe expects to have them back before the semifinal game at 2 p.m. June 4 in Fenton.

Alexis Crowley recorded a shutout in goal for Barstow.

“It’s been fun,” Huppe said, “but we’ve got two more games.”

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