WEST SPRINGFIELD — Being the seventh seed doesn’t sit well with the Amherst Regional boys soccer team.
The Hurricanes showed the ceiling of their talent in a 2-1 win Monday over No. 2 West Springfield in the Division 1 Western Massachusetts Tournament quarterfinals.
“We know we’re a talented team, one of the best in western Mass., we just had to prove it,” Amherst senior Samson Heyer said.
They’ll face either No. 3 Longmeadow or No. 6 Westfield at 5 p.m. Thursday at Central. The Lancers and Bombers play at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The Hurricanes (10-7-2) couldn’t show their talent at first. A physical game put some of their more creative players like Heyer on the ground more often than on the ball initially.
“We weren’t getting calls, but when that happens you’ve got to play on,” Heyer said.
In the 21st minute, Heyer surveyed his attacking options from the midfield. Senior forward Josiah Wilson appeared in his field of vision streaking down the right sideline.
“I was a little deep, I saw he was 1 v 1, and I know Josiah’s a little pacey kid,” Heyer said. “If I see he’s 1 v 1 I’ll play him in every time.”
Wilson collected the pass in the penalty box near the 6-yard keeper’s box on the right side of the goal. He took a couple controlling touches and slotted the ball in the bottom-right corner past West Side keeper Nick Albano.
“I took my inspiration from (U.S. national team forward) Jozy Altidore. I watched him one time, and he was holding a player off then he just shoots it really hard in the low corner,” Wilson said. “That’s what I was trying to do, and it worked out well.”
Amherst maintained a 1-0 lead at halftime then added to it in the second half.
Junior Colton Spirko slotted home a rebound in the 50th minute to double the Hurricanes’ lead.
“Colton’s always in the right spot because he’s a great player,” Amherst coach Michael Rudd said. “He’s one of the best midfielders in western Mass. and he proves it every game.”
It proved necessary. West Springfield (13-3-3) pulled a goal back with 12 minutes to go.
Alex Kidman headed in a free kick for the Terriers that renewed their energy.
“We never quit,” West Side coach Nick Gumlaw said. “They’re a great group of kids. It’s one of those groups where you look forward to coming to practice every day. They will be missed.”
Amherst cleared the ball out of the goal after it crossed the line. The Hurricanes thought they prevented a tally, but the referee signaled a good goal.
“I don’t know if it crossed the line, I was right on it, but you know,” Heyer said shrugging his shoulders.
The Hurricanes backed off their offensive pressure after conceding. They moved numbers forward even after their first goal to press their advantage but didn’t want to over-extend.
“We just had to keep our heads. There’s about 10 minutes left, so we can’t concede a goal,” Heyer said. “We’ve got to stay focused.”
As for its two potential semifinal opponents, Amherst tied the defending sectional champion Lancers 2-2 on Sept. 27 and tied Westfield 1-1 on Sept. 22. Longmeadow knocked Amherst out of last year’s tournament 3-0 in the semifinals. This will be the Hurricanes’ fifth straight trip to the semifinals.
“If we play to our full potential, it’s going to be scary,” Heyer said.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.