Sweet Home offense leads to second half success
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The Sweet Home field hockey team has worked on its scoring opportunities throughout the regular season and it has paid off through the second half of the regular season.

After scoring nine goals in its first nine games, the Lady Panthers scored 24 goals in its final eight games and posted six of its eight victories.

"We've started finishing better on offense as the season has gone on," said Sweet Home coach Dawn Kauderer-Kromer. "We have been working on our intensity. If we play for a full 60 minutes, we play a lot better."

Sweet Home finished the regular season 8-6-2 to finish fourth among ECIC Large Schools. Eight games were decided by one goal or less.

"There's been a lot of competition which is nice," said Kauderer Kromer. "Any time you can get the level of competition up in the entire area it forces us to work that much harder."

Recent wins for the Lady Panthers have come over West Seneca East, 4-0, on Oct. 5, Clarence, 1-0, on Oct. 10 and East Aurora, 7-1, on Oct. 15. Senior attacker Emily Tolnay had two goals against West Seneca East; junior midfielder Mackenzie Lewandowski scored the game-winner against Clarence. Leading goal scorer Katie Mazuchowski scored three times against West Seneca East.

Mazuchowski is tied for fourth among ECIC Large Schools with nine goals. Lewandowski is second on the team with five goals.

"After that, the scoring is pretty wide spread," said Kauderer Kromer. "Any time you can have a wide range of contributors you're better off."

The Sweet Home defense has also stepped up, led by junior Lauren Korniczky and seniors Betsy Forster and Allison Feger.

"Lauren has been a constant leader," said Kauderer-Kromer. "Her ball transition from defense to offense up the field has been phenomenal."

Kauderer-Kromer also lauded the play of senior midfielders Chrissy Strom and Danielle Gangi. Junior goalie Leann Stiver has recorded seven shutouts.

Sweet Home, seeded fourth in the Section VI Class A tournament, will host fifth-seed Hamburg at 3:30 p.m. on Friday in quarterfinal game.

To continue the team's success, Kauderer-Kromer said the team needs to play hard from the opening whistle.

"When we do that, we're at our best," said Kauderer-Kromer.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com