Amherst leveling out roller coaster season
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst's Katie Erbacher fires a shot during the second half of the Lady Tigers' 1-0 home win last Wednesday. Amherst is 6-4-2. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

The Amherst Central field hockey team's season can best be described as a roller coaster.

The Lady Tigers (6-4-2) opened with a 3-0-1 record, defeating West Seneca East, 2-1; West Seneca West, 5-1; East Aurora, 4-1; and tying Williamsville South, 0-0.

Amherst coach Laurie LeGoff said a lack of a 60-minute effort, including the inability to not generate a great deal of attack, proved costly in road losses at Clarence, 2-1, and Hamburg, 1-0.

LeGoff said the team gained experience from the losses in a 1-0 overtime home loss to Iroquois, who defeated Amherst by the same score in last year's Section VI Class B final.

"The level of intensity was high," said LeGoff. "The girls rose up to the challenge and generated nice offensive opportunities throughout the midfield."

LeGoff said two defensive lapses led to a 1-1 tie against Orchard Park and a 1-0 loss versus Lancaster. She said the team regrouped and put together outstanding games against strong Class B opponents, beating Starpoint and Pioneer by 1-0 scores last Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Sophomore JV call-up Katrina McQuiggan (Alana Madria, Robin McDonald) and junior forward Carolyn Sobol (Madrid, Abby Muraco) each scored game-winning goals in the first half against Starpoint and Pioneer, respectively.

Six different forwards have scored for the Lady Tigers this season, which LeGoff said has provided great scoring balance.

Madrid, a senior, leads the team with nine goals and five assists. Senior co-captain Robin McDonald has three goals and seven assists. Sobol (three goals, two assists), junior Maria Cafferelli (two goals, assist), senior Morgan Felgemacher (goal, assist) and junior Amanda Kapus (goal, assist) have also tallied points.

LeGoff said senior co-captain Katie Erbacher (six assists) has been solid in the midfield and has displayed outstanding transition play. Sobol, a defender turned-midfielder, and Muraco, a midfielder, have continued to develop on offense and defense.

The defensive unit of senior center back Sarah Hunt, junior left back Jordan Aprile, sophomore right back Maria Manunta and junior sweeper Lauren Kapus have stepped up, LeGoff said.

"They're not panicking in stressful situations and are helping each other out," said LeGoff. "They bend but don't break, meaning they endure the pressure of an opponent and transition the ball into our attack."

Junior goalie Erin Edson has recorded four shutouts.

"She's really stepped up her game to another level in the past two weeks," said LeGoff. "She's making sound decisions and executing in challenging situations, which has allowed us to have solid defensive efforts."

Amherst has five more regular season games, beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Williamsville East and at 5 p.m. on Friday at home against Sweet Home. Next week, they play at 4:45 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15 at Williamsville North, Holland at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 and host Buffalo Seminary at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18.

"We have tremendous challenges ahead, but we have been working well as a team, which is a great credit to our senior leadership," said LeGoff. "We continue to make progress each day. To have success, we need to give a 60-minute effort and capitalize on our scoring opportunities."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com