Amherst Blanks Short-Handed Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Amherst boys soccer team Tuesday dominated the first half and held off a short-handed Pittsfield team in the second half to earn a 3-0 win at Kirvin Park.
After not getting a shot on goal in the first 40 minutes, the Generals generated a number of good chances after the break.
But the Hurricanes, who took a 2-0 lead into half-time, got the only goal of the second half in the 65th minute.
The victory avenged a 4-2 loss to Pittsfield last month. But that Generals team had a different look.
“We had a combined seven guys out [on Tuesday], including a couple of starters,” PHS coach Ryan Wanek said. “We were full strength when we went to them.
“It was a good game that we played, had some great goals, and we were able to win, 4-2. Here, it’s a little bit different.
“But I still think we gave a helluva effort.”
The Generals’ best opportunity of the first half came midway through.
After being pinned in its end of the field most of the first 20 minutes, Pittsfield broke across midfield and earned back-to-back corner kicks.
Amherst’s defense was able to clear on the second set piece, and its offense immediately countered when Brandon Barahona sent a cross deep up the right wing for Noe Arboleda-Ruff, who beat a drawn out Pittsfield keeper Sam Glockner (eight saves) to make it 1-0 with 18 minutes, 25 seconds left in the half.
Five minutes later, Amherst’s Ellis Rubin struck from about 24 yards out to double his team’s lead.
Wanek said Pittsfield went into the game with a more defensive mindset but switched gears at half-time.
“”It was really just letting them know that this is kind of like what we expected with the numbers we had for today’s game,” he said of the conversation during intermission. “We knew we were going to be more defensive. Now it’s our time to go out there and give it a go, try to win the game because a 2-0 game at half-time, you’re still in it.”
Pittsfield knocked on the door repeatedly in the first 20 minutes of the second half.
In the 45th minute, Amos Ezan sent a cross from deep on the right wing, but the Generals were not able to make the final connection in the box. Six minutes later, Mateo Yepez Villareal had a try from about 35 yards out that was just over the crossbar.
In the 54th minute, Daniel Ezan’s header off an Elvis Chairez free kick was just wide.
And in the 58th and 59th minutes, Amos and Daniel Ezan had Pittsfield’s first shots on goal of the afternoon.
But it was Amherst that found the net with 15 minutes remaining. Theo Almeida’s shot came off Glockner’s hands and found Alex Stanchev, who finished to make it 3-0.
Pittsfield (6-5-2) is home again on Friday against Chicopee.
Photos from this game to come.