Amherst exceeding expectations
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Coming into the 2007 season, Amherst boys soccer coach Bobby DiNunzio had no idea how his team would fare.

Thirteen players and eight starters graduated from last year's 10-2-2 team, leaving DiNunzio wondering who would pick up the slack. After nine games and a 5-3-1 overall record and 2-2-1 in ECIC Division III, he got his answer from the entire team.

"They've exceeded my expectations," said DiNunzio. "They don't play above their heads. They're a good group of kids. Everyone gets along."

The Amherst defense has played well, allowing only seven goals. Senior sweeper Alex Portin leads the defense. Senior stopper Sam Suggs and junior outside defenders Phil Beaudet and Peter Blanford have also been solid, DiNunzio added.

Goaltending was a question at the beginning of the season but sophomore Joe Pittari has answered with five shutouts. Unfortunately, Pittari broke his left leg last week in gym class and will be in a hard cast for a month, DiNunzio said.

Senior Kurt Ebsary, who usually plays at forward, started in the team's 3-0 home win on Monday over Pioneer.

"Pittari has held his own," said DiNunzio. "He let in one bad goal in a tournament in Lancaster and has had at least one good save in every game."

Amherst's offense has been creating scoring chances all season but it wasn't until recently that the team started cashing in on their opportunities. The team has 13 goals but senior forward Bridget Langfur has the most with five goals.

"Nobody has been lighting it up," said DiNunzio. "We've spread the goals out."

Amherst opened the season on Tuesday, Sept. 4 with a 1-0 home win over West Seneca East. Langfur scored the game's only goal and had two of the team's tallies in a 4-0 win on Sept. 8 over Niagara Falls in the consolation game of the Lancaster tournament. Portin and Ebsary also scored against Niagara Falls.

In league games, Amherst lost to Maryvale, 4-1, on Monday, Sept. 10, tied Depew, 0-0 on Wednesday, Sept. 12, lost to Cheektowaga, 1-0, on Friday, Sept. 14 and beat Starpoint, 1-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Ebsary scored against Maryvale, senior outside midfielder Ben Gaughan had the game-winner against Starpoint 15 minutes into the second half, junior midfield/forward William O'Neil-White recorded two goals and junior forward and exchange student Ignacio Castillo had the Tigers' third goal against Pioneer.

Amherst also beat Grand Island, 3-0, in a non-league game on Monday, Sept. 17. Langfur scored twice; Ebsary had the other. The Tigers also lost 2-0 to Kenmore West in the first round of the Lancaster tournament on Thursday, Sept. 6.

DiNunzio also lauded the play during the season of junior midfielders Steve Mugel and Mike Szymkowiak and senior stopper Joe Stocking.

Amherst plays at Williamsville South at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and host Depew at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.