The Amherst Central Tigers boys varsity lacrosse team opened their 2026 campaign with a resounding 12-5 victory over the Grand Island Vikings on Monday evening. Playing under the lights at the Dimp Wagner Athletic Field, the Tigers controlled the pace of play from the opening faceoff, utilizing a suffocating ride and crisp offensive passing.
Senior attackman and team captain Mark Davis was the undisputed star of the night, netting five goals and dishing out two assists. Davis consistently exploited the Vikings' zone defense, finding soft spots on the crease to catch feeds from junior midfielder Evan Wright. Wright finished the game with a commanding four assists and a goal of his own.
Defensively, the Tigers were anchored by junior goaltender Sam Peterson, who recorded 11 saves, including three point-blank stops during a crucial man-down situation in the second quarter. Long-stick midfielder David Chang scooped up a team-high seven ground balls, repeatedly sparking Amherst's fast-break transition game.
"We wanted to come out and set a physical tone early," Head Coach Peter Sullivan remarked post-game. "Our defense communicated beautifully, and Sam stood on his head in the net. If we can keep sharing the ball like we did on offense tonight, we're going to be a tough team to beat in our division."
Amherst (1-0) will face a much stiffer test this Thursday when they travel to face the defending Class B champions, the Hamburg Bulldogs, at 5:00 PM.