Competitive games no consolation for Tigers

While the scores may be indicative of an improvement, the 2007-08 Amherst Central Federation hockey team is not taking consolation in the fact that their games this year are more competitive.

"It's an improvement that was expected," said Amherst head coach Rich Crozier. "No one in our locker room is satisfied with a competitive game. Yes, we've been very close in four of our first six games but our focus remains on what we can do different to turn these games into wins. We're very close right now and if we can correct the little mistakes that we are making, the wins will come."

The first of two competitive games this week for the Tigers started on Thursday night when they took on Williamsville East.

The Tigers were able to mount a quick start against East, taking a 1-0 lead three minutes into the first period.

The line of senior Phil Cultrara, and juniors Sean Mullane and Stephen Mugel were able to pin East deep in their zone. Mugel stole the puck from a East defenseman and quickly fired it towards the net. It hit an East player in front and found its way to the back of the net. It was Mugel's second goal of the season.

"It was a great start for us," said Crozier. "To get early production from that line was a big lift for our team."

Two minutes later, a controversial call prevented the Tigers from taking a 2-0 lead. On the power play, senior Mike Gruttaduria threw the puck towards the net. The puck went off senior Al McQuiggan's right skate and into the net. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the goal was disallowed.

"We asked for an explanation and the referee said that Al (Mc- Quiggan) made a kicking motion towards the net," said Crozier. "To be honest, I did not see that, but yelling and screaming about it was not going to change their minds. It certainly was a call that could have gone our way."

That disallowed goal changed the complication of the game and East was able to mount a comeback, tying the game at 1-1 when senior Eric Bogart tied the game from Matt Kweller.

After giving up two late goals in the final minute of the second period, Amherst was able to get on the board again early in the third when Gruttaduria scored a beautiful goal on the power play. McQuiggan moved the puck up the wing to senior Matt Allwes. Allwes skated the puck in and left it for Gruttaduria. Gruttaduria picked up the puck, split the East defense and rifled it into the top corner to make the score 4-2.

"That was a big goal that Mike scored to get us back in the game," said Crozier. "Obviously, there is a lot of pressure on him, McQuiggan and Allwes to produce for us. I was happy to see Mike finally breakthrough and get one."

Unfortunately for the Tigers, that was all they could muster and the game ended 5-2.

"It's an improvement from years past against this team, but we're not satisfied," said Crozier. "The difference in the game was the two late goals we gave up in the final minute of the second period. Those two goals were killers. We need to improve on our intensity, especially in the last minute of a period."

Bogart (Colin Lucey, Joey Cantafio) scored a second goal for East late in the first period.

Flames junior Mike DeStephano scored twice in 22 seconds late in the second period. He tallied on the power play from junior Max Fogel and senior Dan Tyx with 58 seconds remaining and added an even strength goal from Fogel with 36 seconds left.

Sophomore James Faran scored his first of the season in the third from Lucey and senior Peter Bouris.

Flames senior goalie Jay Hall made 14 saves.

East coach Mike Torrillo lauded the play of his penalty killers. Eric Esposito, Cantafio, Matt Kweller, Gary Styn, and the entire defense, led by Kyle Murray and Fogel, killed off 13 East penalties throughout the entire game. East held Amherst to two shots in the second period.

On Sunday, the Tigers took on a new opponent to the Section VI Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation, Niagara Falls High School, at Buffalo State Ice Arena.

After falling behind 2-0 and playing a lackluster first period, the Tigers struck first in the second period. Grattuduria, battled behind the Niagara Falls goalie and fed the puck to Allwes. Allwes stepped out in front of the net and buried the puck behind the Falls goalie, making the score 2-1. Senior Steve Rubach also assisted on the play.

After giving up two more, the Tigers struck again when sophomore Dave Rubach lit the lamp. After a hard-working shift from the Rubach brothers and senior Dan Hubbard, David Rubach picked up the puck from the corner, walked out in front and shot through the goalie's five-hole.

It was David Rubach's first goal of his career, and Steve Rubach's second point of the game.

"It's great to see both Rubachs contribute, but especially Steve," said Crozier. "Steve's one of those seniors we are counting on. He played a good game."

After falling behind 5-2, the Tigers mounted another comeback, when Gruttaduria scored his second in as many games on a breakaway. Gruttaduria took a pass up the middle from junior defenseman Kevin Denny. He then used his speed to slip by the Falls' defensemen and slid it through the goalie's legs. It was Gruttaduria's third point in two games. The Tigers pulled the goalie but to no avail as Niagara Falls hung on for the 5-3 victory.

"Our terrible start in the first period really hurt us," said Crozier. "I would say that it was our game in the second and third period, but we put ourselves in a tough hole and we couldn't recover. It's a tough lesson to learn this early in the season, but we'll look to bounce back from it. In this league, a team needs to play a full 45 minutes to win hockey games and we didn't do that."

Sophomore goalie Sean Smith made 19 saves for the Tigers.

Amherst takes on St. Francis at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Buffalo State College.

(Patrick J. Nagy contributed to this article)