Rovers double up Panthers

Colin Preston, Ted Donner (behind Preston) Evan Hughes; third row - North coach Brian Swatland, Kurt Schlewitt, Steve Oehler, Kyle Siskar, Rick Weiss, Joe Seitz, Ben Demerath, Marc Schlewitt, coach Nick Wheeler, and coach Jack Hartman.

The Amherst Rovers doubled up the Tonawanda Panthers, 4-2, in an outdoor Travel "B" Buffalo Western New York Junior Soccer league game played on Monday, May 14.

Amherst dominated the first half, keeping it deep in Tonawanda's end most of the half and led 3-0 by halftime.

Allie Troncone was in perfect position at the far corner of the net to punch it in when it came across for Amherst's first goal. Joy Thompson made a nice move to get past the defense and sent a bouncing ball towards the net that the goalie could not handle for Amherst's second goal. Audrey Parenti crashed the goal and pushed a rebound into the net for Amherst's third goal after the goalie could not handle a high blooping shot.

Tonawanda scored very early in the second half but Amherst got it back to a three-goal lead shortly thereafter when Chelsea Stachura scored with a high, deep shot that hit the top of the net on one bounce.

Tonawanda would once again close the deficit to two goals and mounted a furious onslaught late, but Amherst held on.

Other highlights on offense included Courtney Sugarman nearly scoring early after she intercepted a throw-in, dribbled to the net and blasted it off the post. Meredith Parenti created several scoring opportunities by repeatedly beating defenders near the sideline and following it with centering passes. Julia Newton was getting physical deep in the corners which led to several scoring opportunities. Julia Struble took on four defenders deep in their end and won the battle by sending the ball off them and out of bounds.

Defensively, Sarah Snyder made several key defensive plays late to help preserve the lead, breaking up several plays as the Panthers were closing in on net. Colleen Stelley was the last one back on a four-on-one break and managed to knock the ball out of bounds. Kali Karnes was a brick wall as last defenseman back in the first half, using her head to send the ball back out.