Amherst girls lacrosse wins in big fashion

Amherst played three games last week and was in control of all of them.

Fifteen different Lady Tigers scored in a lopsided win over Eden on Tuesday, April 24. Amherst followed with a 16-3 victory at Williamsville South on Thursday, April 26 and a 15-2 home blowout over Lancaster on Friday, April 27.

Christine Domres led the Amherst attack against Eden with three goals and three assists. Kristin Scaringi had two goals and four assists and Daisy Timlin and Brianne Burton also scored twice. Others scoring for the Lady Tigers were Meaghan Hurley, Ellen Janicki, Casey Martin, Taylor Manahan, Ali Medinic, Cydney Kramer, Elana Korn, Abbie Gowen, Alexis Scime, Jodi Battaglia, and Lily Timlin. Erin Edson and Amy Simon each had an assist.

Ellie Poleon and Edson shared the shutout in net assisted by Kayla Brand and Danielle Pizzuto, Sarah Heidinger and Anne Marie Pera on low defense.

"This game was a great opportunity for each of the players to contribute in all areas of the field," said coach Janet Battaglia.

Gowen led Amherst's offensive charge against South with four goals and five assists. Jodi Battaglia (two goals, two assists), Erbacher and Timlin (two goals each) and Daisy Timlin, Simon, Martin, Medinic, and Scaringi each chipped in with a goal.

Poleon had no shots in first half duties in net. Edson faced five shots in the second half and made two saves.

Coach Battaglia said many aspects of her team's play were demonstrated against Lancaster.

Amherst started the scoring with a nice goal from Daisy Timlin off a Gowen feed three minutes into the game. The scoring fell to a lull over the next 10 minutes as the Lady Tigers had two goals ring off the goal post and another called back for a crease violation.

Coach Battaglia said her team's midfield and low defense held Lancaster's attackers off and Poleon had two early saves that allowed her team to have patience on attack.

Amherst's next goal was a give and go between Gowen and Jodi Battaglia, with Battaglia scoring at the 12-minute mark of the first half. Amherst would score seven more goals over the remainder of the half with a wide variety of scorers and assists. Jodi Battaglia (two goals, assist), Gowen (three goals, three assists), and Simon and Daisy Timlin (two goals each) contributed to Amherst's unexpected 9-0 first half lead.

"The midfield pressure and low defense created many opportunities to allow the scoring to explode in the first half," said coach Battaglia.

The Lady Tigers' second half scoring began 30 seconds when Lily Timlin dodged her defender and made a great move to the net.

Lancaster scored their first goal of the game at 18:06 of the second half but Daisy Timlin answered right back, scoring on a free position to add to her total of four goals on the day.

Gowen fed Simon for two more goals and added one of her own to round out the second half scoring. Gowen totaled nine assists on the day, breaking a school record for assists in a game. The previous record was seven, held by Jodi Battaglia.

Defenders Korn, Hurley and Domres along with midfielder Brianne Burton all kept the defensive end unwelcoming to Lancaster, said coach Battaglia.

Poleon finished with seven saves.

"We are particularly proud of our team in this game," said coach Battaglia. "It was a breakout of sorts as all areas of the game were played at a high level of competition. We knew we had to be up for Lancaster, a speedy and skilled team, and the girls definitely rose to the occasion by playing aggressive, yet disciplined throughout. The transition game was especially strong."

Amherst (5-0, 7-2) hosted Williamsville East on April 30 and traveled to Iroquois on May 1 but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They're at East Aurora for a 7 p.m. game on Thursday.