Building a Legacy with Head Coach Tony Amato
11/07/2016 | Soccer
Head coach Tony Amato just wrapped up his fourth season with Arizona Soccer. The Wildcats finished with a 9-9-1 record this season, an even record across the board. It's not surprising that Amato is unsatisfied with this mark. As a former Division I player himself, Amato is always hungry for more.
"When you look back at the season, you feel some disappointment because you always want to keep playing and make the NCAA tournament and have a shot in the playoffs," said Amato. "But I think some good came out of it. When you look down the stretch we beat ASU, our rival and got a Territorial Cup point for the department, and we beat Cal who is now in the tournament and a ranked opponent."
In the past three years Amato has earned a record 34-21-8. The team's best year came last year as Amato led the Wildcats to a 14-6-2 record and into the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He wants to continue to uphold that standard of excellence.
"You feel like if we had one two or three more, we would have been a part of the NCAA Tournament selection show," said Amato. "The margin is that small, and we've done a good job of winning close games in the past but couldn't make it happen this year. The standard now is to make the NCAA Tournament, otherwise it feels like a down year. I think a few years ago this season would have been considered a pretty good season and I'm glad that's not the case anymore."
One game that was a highlight for Arizona came in their win against Oregon State in early October. This marked the 41st win for the senior class, making them the most-winningest class of all time. The seniors continued their endeavor to set the final mark at 43 wins, a level that Amato hopes to help his next senior class overcome.
"I think that the senior class plus Gabi Stoian, Cali Crisler, and Charlotte Brascia were a part of a lot of wins over the past few years," said Amato. "They know what it takes to win those close games, and over these past few years they have won a lot of games. They can be proud of what they've done."
Looking to the future, there's a lot of promise that will return come the spring and the next fall season. Amato mentioned a few key players that will take major roles in the future success of the Wildcats.
"Samantha Falasco did a great job," said Amato. "We knew we needed a center back to come in and help us. She wasn't healthy all year, but she did a good job in the games that she was available. You look down the stretch and you see that against Stanford, she could play at that level; against Cal, she could play at that level. To score the game-winner at ASU too, she showed that she can be a big piece moving forward for us."
Falasco has started as the center back for the Wildcats on-and-off throughout the end of the season after facing a minor injury at the onset of 2016. With a lot of speed and a level head, she's been able to break down many attacks from Arizona's opponents.
"Looking at some of the others: Tia Painilainen and Jill Aguilera will come back from injury and help us too, it was disappointing that they got hurt early," said Amato. "I thought Lainey Burdett was outstanding this year, she may want a play or two back, but if you look at the big picture – she was really good this year. Cali Crisler's role enhanced this year, and Kennedy Kieneker showed that she could play for us at this level. There were a bunch of those that did a good job and I think that their experience this year will go miles for us moving into next season."
To highlight one more player, Gabi Stoian has been a real offensive talent for Arizona since her freshman campaign where she notched 13 tallies for Arizona. She earned six this year in addition to five assists for a total of 17 points.
"Gabi is a good player. She's very talented and can finish when the ball comes her way," said Amato. "I think teams will hone in on her ability and our dangerous set-pieces to prevent us from scoring. We must be able to do more than those two things to attack and score goals. I think working on improving those other areas will help her moving into her senior campaign. She will have to find a way to score, assist, and make plays even when teams are putting her on the scouting report. She's good enough to be able to do that and that will be her focus moving forward."
Stoian will continue to improve alongside her quickly growing team as well. There were five Wildcats on the roster this season that scored at least three goals, so there's no shortage of scoring ability. The Wildcats will have to couple that talent with a hard work ethic as they continue to progress.
"We're about constant improvement," said Amato. "I think the team will be hungry in the offseason and hungry in the spring to get better. We were so close, two wins and I think we would have gotten in to the tournament. We have to keep getting better to ensure that we are getting in. That's the goal, we are now a program where the standard is getting in to the tournament. If we can develop and constantly improve we'll continue to build everything we want this program to be."
Every player on the team talks about the effect that the crowd has on their performance. Amato has worked to build that effect into something his players can really draw from, and it has become an experience that attracts fans from all over Tucson.
"I think we've seen a lot of good things in our progression from our beginning to now," said Amato. "With season ticket holders, with our offerings to fans, to not just the product on the field but also the fan experience. We've gotten a response in the community and I believe we could have a special situation. It's part of the building process. Our fans in Tucson love the University of Arizona and there's a great soccer culture, and if you can combine those two at Mulcahy Stadium it makes for a great experience. We have added some aspects to that and the players feed off it. I think that will continue to grow and be a real strength of ours."
The Wildcats finished their season on Friday with a 1-0 win against the Arizona State Sun Devils. They will look to play again during the spring of 2017.
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