Amherst drops final regular season game

Amherst Central lost their final boys lacrosse regular season game of the year, losing to Frontier, 13-10, on Friday, May 18.

Amherst scooped up 52 ground balls to Frontier's 33 but was outshot, 32-25.

"Frontier had a really great third quarter," said Amherst coach Stefan Henn. "We must have thrown away the first five possessions of the third. They had no problems against our man-down defense (3 for 6 in the game)."

Sean Smith and Casey Rich each scored three goals to lead Amherst. Will Africano added a goal and two assists and won 15 of 19 faceoffs.

Goalie Conor McNally made 11 saves.

Amherst opened the week with a 15-0 win over Lake Shore on Tuesday, May 15. The Tigers dominated in ground balls (63-9) and shots (50-11).

Rich had four goals and three assists to lead Amherst. Africano (three goals, assist, won 11 of 12 faceoffs) and Nick Johnson (goal, three assists) also contributed for the Tigers.

Amherst finishes the regular season 8-9 overall and 6-2 in Section VI Class B.

Williamsville North

The Spartans fell to 5-4 in Section VI Class A and 9-7 overall with losses last week to Frontier, 11-7, on Tuesday, May 15, and West Seneca East, 3-1, on Thursday, May 17.

Only four Spartans had points as the team was outshot (39-18 and outgroundballed (38-30). Brent Rickan scored five of the team's goals. Matt Dindurski scored the other two. Pat Mulvhill (three assists) and Evan Bryant (two assists) also contributed.

"We didn't hustle or execute until there was four minutes left in the game," said North coach Matt Smart. "We created chances, but couldn't finish."

Ryan Geary scooped up six ground balls.

Against West Seneca East, North played well defensively but couldn't score.

"We allowed two transitional goals and missed a slide once. Other than that it was a spectacular defensive game," said Smart. "We couldn't catch or throw on the offensive end of the field. Again, there were chances, but we didn't capitalize on them. This game is as simple as picking up a ground ball, passing, catching, and shooting away from the goalie. We are not doing the simple things well to win."

Rickan scored in the fourth quarter with an assist from Dindurski.