Indoor Soccer
United U-14 picks up first win of season

Coach Kevin Brenner and his Amherst United U-14 posted their first win of the 2007 indoor soccer season on Feb. 23 at Sportsplex, defeating the Northtowns Warriors, 3-1.

Fans of the Amherst boys got a glimpse into a promising future in game against the Northtowns Warriors after several close, but unsatisfying losses.

From the opening kick, Amherst demonstrated a patient, ball control system highlighted by crisp passes that weeks of practice had honed.

The United controlled the opening minutes of the match with strong play up top from Jordan Bookbinder and Ryan Hofscheider. Only some clutch saves from the Warriors goalkeeper kept the game scoreless.

Unfortunately, it was one of those timely saves that allowed the opposing squad to force the ball up the middle, leading to a breakaway. Goalkeeper Sean McNamara came out to cut down the angle but the forward just put the ball past his reach into the far corner of the net.

Down 1-0, the Amherst squad re-energized. Led by midfielder Ben Roesser, the United brought pressure to bear on the Northtowns defense. The boys knotted the score at 1-1 when Roesser, off a corner kick, passed the ball into Hofschneider, who found Curtis Snyder pushing down on the goalkeeper's right and blasted the ball into the back of the net.

Moments later, Tommy Ryan and Evan Martone just missed an opportunity to put the team up by one after Ryan took a Chris Aurilio clearing pass down the right side of the field.

With time running out in the first half, Alex Buell, who frustrated the visitors forwards time and time again, stole a through ball and delivered it to Connor Dougherty, who bulled his way through three defenders before getting off a shot that was just deflected - which had the half end with the score 1-1.

The second half was all Amherst. Hofschneider got the go-ahead goal early when he tipped a loose ball past the keeper on another corner kick. Five minutes later, Danny Stelly tallied after Jeff Miller and Buell combined to steal another ball from the Northtowns offense.

Newcomers Kevin Wolf and Mike Zimmerman each had opportunities as the second half progressed. Each was frustrated by some overly physical play from the Warriors and were unable to convert. Goalkeeper McNamara and the defense of Buell, Aurilio and Roesser kept Northtowns off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game and sealed a well earned victory.