AMHERST — Aliya Morales-Fernandez bled for a victory for the Amherst Regional girls soccer team on Thursday afternoon. While protecting a one-goal lead with less than 30 seconds to play, Frontier Regional’s Skyler Steele found some room and sent a shot at the senior keeper.
Morales-Fernandez made the save, but during the ensuing rebound, a teammate’s knee hit her square in the face. With blood coming from her lip and nose, Morales-Fernandez watched from the bench as the last nine seconds came off the clock in a narrow 2-1 Central league win for the Hurricanes.
“I just saw the ball going,” Morales-Fernandez said. “I saw my teammate and the other team coming and I am like ‘I have to put my body on the line’ to see if I can save it…all I felt was a ‘boom’ from my nose and lip, obviously. Then there was really bad pain, and I had to come out. I wish I hadn’t bled so I could have stayed in.”
The Hurricanes closed out the last nine seconds for their teammate. Amherst avenged a loss to the Redhawks earlier in the season. Amherst took down Southwick on Tuesday.
“The momentum kept us going,” Amherst coach J.W. Benoit said. “The girls are coming together as a team. We are looking at our leaders to pull our younger players up. That’s what we are seeing on the field at this point in the season.”
Morales-Fernandez made six saves in net.
“You can’t ask anything more from a goalkeeper to come out and put her body on the line,” Benoit said. “She stepped up. Our starting goalkeeper got injured. She’s turning around and making a name for herself as a top goalkeeper.”
Skyler Steele of Frontier Regional settles a pass in the teeth of Amherst’s defense, Thursday in Amherst. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Maggie Nichols of Frontier (right) tries to evade Nora Hannah of Amherst, Thursday in Amherst. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Sadie Nichols of Frontier (left) and Chelah Schwartz of Amherst battle for possession, Thursday in Amherst. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Nora Hannah (center) of Amherst moves up the field with Adelaide Ehle (right) of Frontier in pursuit, Thursday in Amherst. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Kayla Tudryn of Frontier makes a save in front of Chelah Schwartz of Amherst, Thursday in Amherst. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Sophie Ameen-McCabe of Amherst lines up a shot against Frontier, Thursday in Amherst. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
The Hurricanes took a quick 2-0 lead in the first half. Bea Eggemeier sent a shot from distance just under the crossbar to give Amherst a 1-0 lead. Josie Duncan assisted on the play. On Amherst’s next goal, Nora Hannah found some room along the left side of the field after a pass from Maeve Fitzgerald. Hannah found the net, giving Amherst a 2-0 lead with 26 minutes, five seconds left in the first half.
Frontier started the comeback attempt with a goal by Danica Kopcza. Adelaide Ehle sent a beautiful entry into the 18-yard scoring box to initiate the play. Ehle’s pass found the feet of Kopcza, who made the score 2-1 with 20:57 left in the game.
The remainder of the game saw Frontier peppering the offensive zone but not quite getting the chances it needed until the final minutes.
“It took us until the last 15 minutes to get crazy,” Ehle said. “Then we were locked in…it was really good play from us. I saw everyone doing things they were supposed to…playing together and working like a machine.”
Amherst brought a little more physicality and speed to the game, compared to their first matchup.
“They came out faster with their pace of play,” Frontier coach Lauren Sullivan said. “It was way faster than the last game. I think they surprised us with their physicality. We struggled to possess. They were quick to the ball.”
Kayla Tudryn had an active and effective game in net for the Redhawks. The freshman keeper made 15 saves for Frontier.
Easthampton 7, Chicopee 0 — The Eagles defense continues to shine as they picked up their third straight shutout in the victory against the Pacers.
Natalie Lisatinski earned the clean sheet with six saves in goal for Easthampton.
Arie Kuchyt (two goals), Alana Halpin (goal, assist) and Sophie Madsen (two goals, assist) starred for the Eagles.
Boys soccer
Smith Voc 1, PVCICS 0 — Nolan Bloomrose notched the game’s only goal as the Vikings captured their second win in as many games.
Goalies Tanner Levin (Smith Voc) and Simon Doherty-Girard (PVCICS) each totaled six saves.
Field hockey
Amherst 4, Hampshire 3 — Two goals from Sam Leblond carried the ‘Canes to their first win of the season in the close game versus the Raiders.
Chiara Biagi and Anne Haugsjaahabink also secured strikes for Amherst.
Hampshire received goals from Ella Brunelle, Madeline Desilets and Trinity Fellows.
Girls volleyball
West Springfield 3, Easthampton 0 — The Eagles’ were blanked against the Terriers for its fourth loss in five matches.
Kaylin Dumas (five kills, eight digs) was a bright spot for Easthampton.
Golf
Hampshire 163, Amherst 194 — Co-medalist honors from Raiders’ standouts Cole Boissonneault and Wes Adamski was too much for the Hurricanes to overcome in the defeat at Amherst Golf Club. Hampshire’s duo each carded a 40.
Agawam 157, South Hadley 177 — Tigers’ top golfer Ryley McMahon had the best round for the hosts (one-over 37) but the Brownies came out on top at Ledges Golf Course.
Late Wednesday Results
Girls soccer
Lenox 4, Holyoke 3 — Five second-half goals between the two teams closed out the contest with a roar after a quiet first half.
Kyra Lippman (two goals, assist) factored into every Purple Knights’ goal.
Boys soccer
Amherst 3, Minnechaug 2 — The Hurricanes picked up a critical victory against the Falcons, off the heels of three different goalscorers.
Alex Pobezinskiy, Ellis Rubin and Alex Stanchev found twine for Amherst.
South Hadley 1, Westfield 1 — The Tigers clawed out a draw against the Bombers at home.
Matt Butler (goal) and Xzavies Rosario (seven saves) stood out for South Hadley.
