Williamsville East blanks playoff opponents

Top-seed Williamsville East improved to 17-1-2 overall with playoff victories over sixteenth-seed Tonawanda, 6-0, and ninth-seed Lewiston-Porter, 7-0, in prequarterfinal and quarterfinal games of the Section VI Class A tournament.

East hosts fourth-seed East Aurora in the Class A semifinals at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at East.

East played Tonawanda in the Flames' first non-league game of the season.

"Tonawanda played without players who did not have enough practices," said East coach Ron Schumacher. "I expected a stronger team this time."

About nine minutes into the game, defender Brian Cianchetti moved up on a corner kick and scored from a ball by Colin Begy. Eight minutes later, Kevin Castine took a loose ball and scored unassisted.

Left midfielder Derek Frost scored his third goal of the season with ten minutes left in the half from Simon Park. Five minutes later, Park scored from Matt Kweller.

"We controlled the game and the substitutes got a lot of playing time," said Schumacher.

The second half produced three goals. Castine scored his second of the game from Mac Noronha. Left midfielder Justin Floss scored unassisted with less than three minutes and Chris Haney tallied his first goal with 42 seconds remaining.

"The younger players played well and their success this year will provide the winning attitude and tradition next year," said Schumacher.

Lew Port won the toss and selected the wind to their backs. Despite the poor conditions, East was able to score first on a long ball played to the goal area by Rashaun Durden. The wind swept the ball into the inside of the far post over the goalie and into the net for Durden's first goal of the season.

"That gave us confidence against Lew-Port and the wind," said Schumacher.

Eighteen minutes later, Park beat an outside defender and passed the ball to a rushing Kweller, who one-touched the ball to the far corner.

Five minutes later, Begy passed the ball at midfield to Noronha. Noronha raced down, put two moves on two defenders and beat the goalie for his fourth goal of the season.

Park and Castine scored unassisted goals in the second half.

"As in the last game, all players got into the game for a total team effort and win," said Schumacher.

East opened the week with a 4-0 non-league win last Monday.

Park scored in the first ten minutes from Begy.

"Begy has been playing the role of setting up players to score," said Schumacher. "He does it well."

With six minutes left in the half, Noronha scored again from Begy.

The scoring in the second half started quickly as Kweller scored in less than two minutes into the half from Park. Schumacher said Park and Kweller played well looking for each other. Schumacher said substitutions were made throughout the game with the younger players getting substantial playing time. Junior Dave Mernan scored his fourth goal of the season from Andy Aderman.

East finished in first place in ECIC II with an 11-1 record.

Through 18 games, Park leads East with 14 goals and four assists. He is followed by Begy (13 goals, 10 assists) and Kweller (six goals, three assists).