"I'm surprised by this," Barry said. "I never thought it would happen."
Barry added that she wished that the game had been more competitive, but she'll take the national record, which she never thought was possible when she became Eastern's starting goalie as a ninth grader.
She faced no shots Tuesday, and Eastern peppered Cherokee keeper Michelle Casl with 19 shots.
"My defenders today were Madison Jung, Erin Hoag, Gianna Perrone and Stephanie Byrn, and they have been a huge part of this record-breaking thing and I couldn't have done it without them, or the players before," Barry said.
Exner went on to become Indiana's all-time winningest goalkeeper. Reached at Rutgers University, where she is the field hockey team's goalkeepers coach, Exner said she's pleased that Barry has committed to Iowa because that means she'll play in the Big Ten.
Exner worked with Barry last spring in the Futures Olympic Development program for 10 sessions.
Asked if Barry reminds Exner of herself, the 5-foot-10 coach said, "We have the same stature a little, and her style is explosive with great footwork.
"She is a very athletic goalkeeper, has size and communicates well. She has presence on the field."
The Vikings' defense, consisting of a senior and three juniors has allowed six goals all season. The defense had been stellar when Barry was a freshman. In fact, it has been superb along with the offense since coach Danyle Heilig took over the program in 1999.
Each year since then, the Vikings have won the state championship, and they are likely to capture their 13th consecutive crown this November.
"I'm excited for her, the team and the program," Heilig said of Barry's accomplishment. "It's an amazing achievement for Alana, and it's well deserved. She has worked hard for that. She has been consistently good for us in the cage over the last four years.
"Alana is the final link in that defensive unit, which starts at your forward line and goes all the way back, so she's an important piece but everyone in front of her is important if not more important."
Eastern had only one seasoned senior on defense last season, when Barry recorded 18 shutouts. So Barry, who was named goalkeeper of the year by the Field Hockey Club of South Jersey last year, has been directing the defense well from the front of the cage, a vantage point in seeing the entire field.
"She runs the show back there," sophomore midfielder Karlee Spirit said earlier this season.
Eastern 7 3 – 10
Cherokee 0 0 – 0
Goals: Austin Cuneo 5, Meredith Kalberer 2, Carly Celkos 2, Emma Johansson.
Saves: E- Alana Barry 0; C: Michelle Casl 9.
Contact staff writer Bill Iezzi at 856-685-3299 or biezzi@phillynews.com.
