The Amherst Falcon soccer team has enjoyed a terrific start to the season despite a recent loss to conference rival Columbus Catholic. The team won its first five matches without a loss, defeating two of the five teams while invoking the mercy rule (scoring 8-0 by the 60-minute mark). Despite playing exceptionally, the team acknowledges needing to work out some kinks. Could this be the year the Falcons shock the conference after advancing to the sectionals last season?
Beginning at Providence Academy (Green Bay), traveling to Clintonville, adventuring to Tri-County, hosting Newman at home, then traveling to Northland Lutheran (Kronenwetter), the boys soccer team has proven their dominance and showed they are out for gold this year.
The team is led by senior captains Isaac Snyder, Milo Graham, and Shayden Abbott-Beversdorf. Holding down the net is senior Finn Brunett, with backup by junior Ian Dudley after Finn was hurt at a recent practice. The team is also led by seniors Daniel Eichmann, Ayden Kazda, and Kyle Peterson. The team has lofty expectations with high standards; they want to dominate and let their opponents know they don’t have a chance to win.
A few students have been injured this year including seniors Brunett and Eichman, as well as standout sophomore Xavier Farrey who suffered a concussion in the first game of the season. Farrey returned for the Kiel game on September 9. “After my late concussion, I am ready to go,” said Farrey. “I am ready to knock the socks off Kiel and show them what Amherst is all about. We’ll show them how the Falcons fly.”
Amherst traveled to Kiel on September 10, an important match likely to set the tone for the rest of the season. Amherst plans to fight for the Amherst name and their great coaches, Ryan Pikka and Eric Linde. Kiel did not roll over and play dead for Amherst, as Pikka would say.
“The team has had to tackle a much more difficult first few games than we did last year,” Abbott-Beversdorf said. “Kiel is no different. They are a good team, but if we play well, we can beat just about nay team in Division 4. I’m certain we can beat Kiel and continue our undefeated record.”
“Everybody is beatable, but I plan to help this team stay undefeated this season,” Farrey added.
Amherst ties Kiel in closely-fought match
The Amherst Falcons traveled the long distance to fight against Kiel for an exceptional game.
Said Coach Erik Linde at the end of the game, “That was the best 15 minutes just now that I have ever seen you guys play. I am proud of all of you.”
Coach Ryan Pikka later added on to that, saying, “You guys just saw what happens when you play with your hearts. We can beat anybody when we play with our hearts and you fight with your hearts. They can set the time and the place and we will show up there and beat them.”
The team was very proud of how they played. Amherst had multiple shots on goal, especially at the end of the game, but none of them found the net. The team now understands they can compete with great teams and they are ready to keep fighting this season.
“It felt like we could’ve capitalized on our chances, but it was a well played game from both sides,” Farrey said.
The team plans to carry this momentum through the second half of the season. Kiel was an exceptional team, and the Amherst boys were very excited to play them and they had a great time fighting for the victory. They will live with the tie but don’t plan on letting another one happen.
“It was obviously not the result we were hoping for, but it also wasn’t a loss,” Abbott-Beversdorf added. “We proved that we can hold our own against one of the best teams in the state, and I think anyone who watched the game will say that we outplayed them, especially in the second half. This game gives us hope for playoffs and high expectations for the rest of the season.”
Senior and Captain Isaac Snyder agrees. “We went in expecting to be very even with Kiel, and we ended up outplaying them. It was very unlucky that we didn’t win, but we fought hard until the end.”
Added Coach Pikka, “The standard we had before is out the window. Today this game showed we can create a higher standard and this game is that new standard.”
