Amherst girls lacrosse tries to close gap
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Senior midfielder Jodi Battaglia is one of three tri-captains for Amherst girls lacrosse. Battaglia is a returning All-WNY first team selection. File photo

Amherst coach Janet Battaglia has figured out an easy way to denounce the notion that Section VI girls lacrosse teams cannot compete with schools from Rochester (Section V) and Syracuse (Section III). Just play them.

The Lady Tigers have already faced Section III's Bishop Ludden (won 11-4) and Liverpool (lost 13-12) and have non-games scheduled with Section V's Honeoye Falls-Lima, and Fairport and scrimmages with Section V's Pittsford-Mendon and Waterloo and Section IV's Corning West. All except Fairport and Bishop Ludden are ranked in the top ten in their sections.

Battaglia feels there a number of benefits from playing out of section teams.

"First of all, it lets you see what lacrosse is like out of the area," said Battaglia, whose Lady Tigers have never beaten a Section V team in a Far West Regional, including a 16-7 loss to Brighton last year. "A few of our kids play in summer and fall tournaments and travel teams, however, most do not. Playing out of town teams gives everyone a new level of exposure and a better basis for comparison. It also offers us as coaches a look at what is going on around the regions. Probably the greatest benefit is that playing new opponents provides a challenge to both players and coaches to respond to and adjust against a team that you are not familiar with."

"To continue to believe we can't compete against teams from Rochester or Syracuse is holding our area back," she continued. "True, we might not match up to the strongest teams from those areas but we can compete with teams from Rochester and beyond. In order to get to the next level you just have to take the next step. Leave your comfort level and give it a try."

If Amherst is to win its seventh section title in nine years, they will have to accomplish the feat in a new class. Enrollment has moved the Lady Tigers from Class B to one of three Class C schools. East Aurora and Eden are the others. Battaglia said the change in classes stems from a reconfiguration of classifications at the state level to even out the number of teams at each level.

Battaglia has many tremendous players returning from last year's 18-2 team, led by her daughter, senior midfielder Jodi Battaglia, an All-Western New York first team selection last year and one of three captains this spring. The four-year starter scored 65 goals and had 47 assists as a junior.

"She helps in all areas of the field but is integral to our transition," said coach Battaglia. "Her stick, shot variety, composure and intensity are her strengths to the team."

Other returning starters on offense are All-WNY honorable mentions, junior midfielder Amy Simon (46 goals, 17 assists last year) and attacker Daisy Timlin (41 goals, 24 assists).

Both are three-year starters and have good stick skills, coach Battaglia said.

Timlin, a tri-captain, has a variety of shots and is a hard worker and Simon has a good shot and is fast, coach Battaglia added.

Also back is senior Brianne Burton, a defensive winger who has gained confidence in her new role when on attack.

Defensively, coach Battaglia returns three-year starters, junior Meagan Hurley, and senior Christine Domres, and two-year starter, junior Elana Korn.

Other returning varsity players include seniors Danielle Pizzuto, a tri-captain, Kayla Brand, and Sara Heidinger at low defense as well as Ellen Janicki (defensive wing), Alexis Scime (can start at attack), Ali Medinic and sophomores Abbie Gowen (attack) and Erin Edson (goalie).

Coach Battaglia said Gowen was a first reserve last year and has developed into an integral player in scoring, assists, transition, and on defense. Edson will start in goal.

New players from the JV are juniors Kristin Scaringi, Casey Martin, Ann Marie Pera, Cydney Kramer, Taylor Manahan, Katie Erbacher, sophomore goalkeeper Ellie Poleon and freshman Lily Timlin, who has started a few games and does a nice job seeing the field and supporting the transition and attack, coach Battaglia said.

Coach Battaglia feels her team's strengths are its transition game and understanding the roles of team play on attack and defense.

"We have many unselfish players who will do what they need to do on and off ball to get a goal," said coach Battaglia. "We can celebrate an assist, or a pick or a ground ball that led to a goal, as all were important in the tally."

Amherst is 2-2 overall but 2-0 in league play, defeating Williamsville South, 17-5, and Iroquois, 20-5, on April 3 and 4, respectively.

"Our early season games and scrimmages had us playing pretty well against these teams and the goal distribution was excellent," said coach Battaglia.

Eight different Lady Tigers tallied against South with Daisy Timlin leading all scorers with five goals and two assists. Scaringi added three goals and Erbacher and Medinic also jumped into the scoring column. Poleon and Edson split time in goal. Burton led the team in ground balls. Coach Battaglia also lauded her team's defensive effort.

Another eight players scored versus Iroquois. Gowen and Battaglia each scored five times. Gowen added six assists.

Coach Battaglia also credits her team's low defense for working together and keeping the Iroquois attackers from scoring after their game-opening goal.

Amherst opened its season at home on March 30 against Bishop Ludden. Trailing 2-0, coach Battaglia said her team settled down to lead 6-3 at halftime.

Jodi Battaglia and Simon each scored three times. Gowen scored two goals and assisted on six other tallies. Daisy Timlin, Scime and Burton each scored a goal. Edson made four saves.

"Defensively we influenced the tempo of the game and created opportunities for many interceptions," said coach Battaglia.

The next morning, Amherst trailed Liverpool by five goals at halftime but rallied to pull within two with under seven minutes remaining. After each team traded goals, Amherst scored with 25 seconds left to cut the deficit to one. Amherst won the next draw but ran out of time.

"The game taught us a lot about ourselves and the level of intensity that we can bring to any competition," said coach Battaglia.

Gowen led Amherst with four goals and six assists. Simon added four goals and an assist. Jodi Battaglia chipped in two goals and an assist. Lily Timlin scored her first varsity goal at 24:14 of the second half off an assist from Simon that brought the game within four goals to start Amherst's second half scoring. Simon, Gowen and Jodi Battaglia combined for four more goals in the next 10 minutes while holding Liverpool scoreless.

"Defensively we adjusted by playing patient body defense and our low defense tightened up on the cutters through the 8-meter," said coach Battaglia.

Edson made five saves.
            Amherst Central 2007 Schedule
4-12 Fairport..................................................... 1 p.m.
4-16 at Honeoye Falls-Lima ...................... 5:30 p.m.
4-18 at East Aurora.................................... 4:30 p.m.
4-19 at East ................................................. 4:30 p.m.
4-24 Eden 4:30 p.m........................ (Middle School)
4-26 at South ............................................... 4:30 p.m.
4-27 Lancaster.................................................. 5 p.m.
5-1 at Iroquois............................................. 4:30 p.m.
5-3 East Aurora................................................ 7 p.m.
5-8 East ............................................................. 5 p.m.
5-9 at Nichols.............................................. 4:30 p.m.
5-10 at Eden ................................................ 4:30 p.m.
5-14 Mt. St. Mary's........................................... 7 p.m.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com