H.S. girls soccer: Hampshire Regional prevails in defensive battle against Amherst, 1-0

WESTHAMPTON — For the most part, goals have been easy to come by for the Hampshire Regional girls soccer team this season. Outside of their two games against Granby, the Raiders have scored two or more goals in every game this season. During their three-game win streak heading into Tuesday, they outscored opponents 17-1.

The first time they faced Tuesday’s opponent, Amherst, earlier this season, Hampshire won, 6-3. Shayne Moynahan totaled four goals in the win.

But on Tuesday, the Raiders and Hurricanes found themselves in a defensive battle amidst one of the first cold nights of the fall. Amherst managed to prevent Hampshire’s top scorers from finding the back of the net, but junior Madelyn Zannotti scored her first goal of the season to give her team the 1-0 win.

“It feels good to know that I was the one who finished this game and helped up,” Zannotti said.

For about the first 20 minutes of the game, teams traded possessions with few shots on net. As Hampshire started to get its rhythm, it began getting more shots on net.

“Amherst is a quality opponent,” Hampshire head coach Steve Croft said. “They’re tough defensively. They have a great goalkeeper. It was just two teams who have been in good form.”

At about the 16-minute mark, the Raiders fired off several shots toward the net, each going just wide.

A few minutes later, a deep ball near the corner brought the ball inside the box. Hampshire got several kicks off only to see the ball ricochet off Amherst defenders. In the chaos, Zannotti found herself at the right place at the right time. She somehow found a clear window to get a close shot off for the score.

“She works incredibly hard, and that was one that we always talk about,” Croft said. “We talk about rebound goals. She was able to put that in and that was the difference in the game.”

Karaghan Rogalski and Emilia Berrena each needed to only make two save for the Raiders as the backline kept the ball out of the box for most of the night.

At 8-1-1, the Raiders are off to their best start since 2022, the last time they made the Division 4 state semifinals. That squad feature three eighth graders who now are captains for this year’s squad: Moynahan, Addie Miklasiewicz, and Maggie Lashway.

“This team has a feel like that team,” Croft said. “Both teams are very good, and who knows what this team is capable of moving forward.”

Aliya Morales-Fernandez was busy in net for Amherst and if not for several well-timed saves, the score may not have been as close. She stopped seven shots on the night.

After starting the year 1-3, the Hurricanes are 4-2 in their last six games. Outside of Morales-Fernandez, the entire roster is composed of juniors and sophomores.

Four of the team’s five loses have come against Granby and Hampshire, the top two teams in the Central league.

Both teams will have matchups against conference opponents on Thursday. Hampshire hosts Frontier while Amherst welcomes Southwick.