After only four games into the 2017 high school soccer season, the Amsterdam girls varsity team has already surpassed last year’s win total. At Thursday’s game against Glens Falls at Lunch Field, Jael Irizarry scored two goals in the first half, and Antonia May scored two goals in the second half, helping the Lady Rams to a 7-0 victory.
“For Jael to get two in the beginning and Toni two in the end was a big deal,” Amsterdam coach Jessica Byerwalters said. “We can always rely on Haley (Madej), Lucia (Liverio), and Emma (Patrei).”
Madej got Amsterdam on the board with a goal in the first two minutes as the Lady Rams took an early lead. That margin grew quickly when Irizarry netted her two goals in the next two plus minutes staking Amsterdam to a 3-0 advantage.
“I asked them to score one in ten minutes,” Coach Byerwalters said. “Getting three in four minutes definitely worked to our benefit.”
Amsterdam’s defense took control and stifled any Glens Falls attempt to get back in the game. Gabby Stanavich, her younger sister Jackie Stanavich, Kelsey Bogdan, Delianna Figueroa, and Ayana Cintron created a roadblock in front of goalkeeper Jareymarie Aponte allowing AHS to preserve the shutout. The defense kept the pressure on, and the offense put more points on the board in the second half.
May, a freshman in her first varsity season in soccer tallied her first varsity goals in the later half keeping Amsterdam comfortably in front. Lucia Liverio also scored as did Madej sealing the win. May and Liverio have now played two sports together as teammates. Aponte made four saves to record her first varsity shutout.
“Our team dynamic has changed,” Coach Byerwalters said. “These kids enjoy playing together. They have big hearts for this game.”
The victory improved Amsterdam’s record to 2-1 in the Foothills Council, and 3-1 overall. The three victories is one more than all of last year. With the majority of the season still ahead, the Lady Rams will be looking to more than double that win total, and for a chance to make the sectionals.
“Definitely a better year,” Coach Byerwalters said. “The team’s a lot better. They are coachable players who play well together. They are comfortable playing together.”
Up next for Amsterdam is a home game against the Johnstown Lady Bills on Tuesday, another tough Foothills Council division rival. Start time for the game at Lynch Field is scheduled for 7pm.
The 2017 Amsterdam Lady Rams varsity soccer team includes seniors; Haley Madej, Lucia Liverio, Emma Patrei, Kelsey Bogdan, and Jada DeGroat, juniors; Jareymarie Aponte, Jael Irizarry, Delianna Figueroa, Emma Gomez, Gabby Stanavich, Ayana Cintron, Nyasia Brown, Elena Fedullo, and Mackenzie Farina, sophomore Grace Clark, and freshmen Antonia May, Lydia Iorio, and Jackie Stanavich.
