Sweet Home's Castiglia blanks Amherst, South
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home Federation hockey coach Dave Gerspach hoped his team would improve as the season went on and with back-to-back shutouts, it's safe to say they're on track.

Senior goalie Rob Castiglia recorded back-to-back shutout victories over Amherst, 7-0, last Thursday on the Amherst Pepsi Center Olympic Rink and Williamsville South last Saturday on the Feature Rink.

Castiglia made 22 saves versus Amherst and 19 stops against South.

"To not let in any goals in back to back games, I don't care who you're playing, is a big accomplishment," said Gerspach.

Sweet Home spread around the scoring. Six different Panthers netted goals against Amherst and another three had goals versus South.

Jim and Colin Cardinale each had great games. Jim Cardinale got Sweet Home's scoring going against Amherst and South in the first period. His goal against Amherst came unassisted at 10:35 and his tally versus South came from Pat McMahon at 11:28 of the first.

Jim Cardinale also assisted Chris Covel on the power play and Colin Cardinale for an even strength tally later in the period against Amherst and Colin Cardinale in the second and Covel on the power play in the third versus South.

Colin Cardinale made it 4-0 Sweet Home versus Amherst at 9:13 of the second from Jim Cardinale and Justin Reich.

Joe Manzella (Dominic Puntillo, Ryan Gutt), Ryan Marko and Adam Titanic (Rich Beaudet) recorded goals for the Panthers against Amherst. Covel added another power-play goal in the third from Mike Campise and Beaudet.

McMahon and Beaudet also recorded assists versus Amherst. Campise assisted on Covel's first power-play goal against South in the third.

Sweet Home (6-5-2, 3-1-1) plays Williamsville East at 9 p.m. on Thursday on the Amherst Pepsi Center Feature Rink, Churchville-Chili at 7 p.m. on Friday at Scottsville Ice Arena in Rochester and Kenmore East at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Buffalo State Sports Arena.

South coach Sean Green thought his team played well in the first two periods against Sweet Home.

South is 1-9 overall and 1-6 in league play. Its only win was a 2-0 decision over Niagara Falls on Dec. 27.

Coach Green lauded the play of defenseman Trevor Clark, forward Daren Powers and goaltenders Brian D'Angelo and Matt Green.

Scoring has been the Billies' problem all season. Coach Green said his team has to generate scoring opportunities whenever they can.

"Hopefully, we'll be rewarded with some goals," said coach Green.

South plays St. Francis on Wednesday and Bishop Timon-St. Jude on Thursday. Both games start at 7 p.m. on the Pepsi Center Olympic Rink. South then travels to Skaneateles, outside Auburn, N.Y., for the Skaneateles Tournament. South plays Canandaigua at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and either Skaneateles or McQuaid on Saturday.