Shots fall for Rovers in second half, defeat Panthers

The Amherst Rovers beat the Tonawanda Panthers, 3-1, in a C-North division outdoor soccer game on July 30 but it took until the second half to register goals on the scoreboard.

Despite most of the game being played in the Tonawanda Panthers' end, they led 1-0 at halftime.

Amherst had numerous chances but just couldn't find the net in the first half. The second half played out much the same, except that Amherst's shots finally started going in.

Audrey Parenti got the tying goal when she got enough of a crossing pass to send it bouncing past the goalie.

Maria Larornaya got the game-winner on a breakaway, carefully aiming her shot at the far corner and putting it in off the post.

Amherst got the insurance goal when Jade Brooks made a perfect throw-in to lead Joy Thompson through the defense. Thompson pushed it forward and then ran it down to put it into the net along the ground just before the goalie could get to it. Brooks also deflected one just wide of a corner kick.

Colleen Stelley created many good scoring chances by drilling it in deep and sending crossing passes in front of the net. She blasted one off the crossbar on one bounce from midfield late.

Allie Troncone beat the defense repeatedly by breaking across the field and up the side, which led to several scoring opportunities.

Chelsea Stachura helped spark Amherst's second half comeback by playing aggressively near midfield, winning several physical battles with Tonawanda players. Maredith Parenti put on a clinic of how to effectively move the ball ahead and pass it right before the defense closes in. Julia Struble several times passed it ahead to teammates in Tonawanda territory to get it on close to the net.

Defensively, Kali Karnes and Sarah Snyder did a great job backing each other up on defense in the first half to not let the Panthers break through, then moved it up to midfield in the second half.

Courtney Sugarman stuffed Tonawanda players several times and created several corner kicks by mixing it up in deep. Julia Newton played aggressively near midfield, helping to keep it in Tonawanda's end to keep the pressure on.