long time,” stated Kozak.
“They are friends off
the field, but something
magical happens when
one throws on his school
colors. The result of the
one game isn’t so import-
ant as much as the devel-
opment of our program.
In the four previous years
leading up to 2016’s epic
Columbus Day match,
Hamburg outscored us
18-0. Last year, we took a
perennial championship
program to double OT
and lost 3-2. Now, it’s up
to our club to see where
we can go from here, not
just against Hamburg but
against some of WNY’s
best programs.”
It’s an interesting game
for Hamburg. The Bull-
dogs have been a dom-
inating force in high
school soccer for awhile
now. The have built a
winning formula and
they kids have bought in.
When it comes to the ri-
valry, the Bulldogs have
dominated.
Before
last
season,
Hamburg had outscored
Frontier 18-0. Last year,
the Bulldogs were put to
the test having to gut out
a 3-2 double-overtime
victory. If you look at this
rivalry all the pressure is
on Hamburg.
If they win they are sup-
pose to. If they loose peo-
ple will ask what’s wrong
with the program. It’s al-
most a lose, lose, situa-
tion.
“The support and ex-
citement for the Darby lo-
cally is amazing. Whether
they are competing over
soccer, girls, club team
spots, etc there is always
added motivation. We
respect them but we cer-
tainly won’t fear them.
They tend to do a lot of
talking via social me-
dia - we try to keep quiet
and let our actions do the
talking. The community
should be hyped - they
gave us a great game last
year and continue to get
better,” stated Hamburg
coach Tony Schiappa.
“Frontier has it at their
place the next two years
- we rotate every two
years. It’s good to have it
there and it doesn’t mat-
ter - will play them in the
woods, in the village, at
the fairgrounds or in the
parking lot of the Big
Tree Inn. Either way we
won’t f linch.”
The players are just as
juiced as the coaches are
to play this game. The
players have been playing
with or against each oth-
er since a young age. This
game has extra mean-
ing for them as they take
field on Sept. 16.
A win for Frontier
means the team has ar-
rived, and Jonah Kozak
knows his team will be
ready come game time.
“It is my favorite game
of the year. We work hard
to beat Hamburg. It is
special to me because I
grew up playing with the
kids of Hamburg High
School,” stated Kozak.
“It is great measuring
stick because Hamburg
is a great team. They
have been at the top of
their league for the past
few years. Winning this
AUGUST 2017 | SportsUnion
game will boost our con-
fidence.”
Added Hamburg’s Gabe
Mastrangelo: “The rivalry
is a year round thing on
the field but off the field
I am friends with many
of the kids on Frontier
and grew up playing with
them. So yeah it’s import-
ant to me to beat them on
game day for bragging
rights, but in the end,
they are my friends.”
At the end of the day,
this game is just anoth-
er one on the schedule.
It’s important for the
continued growth of the
Frontier program. And
for Hamburg it’s anoth-
er chance to get better as
they go after their con-
tinued goal of winning a
state title.
“I hope to see growth
in both programs - we
both want the best for
each other 15 games out
of the year - one game
though we compete like
hell against each other.
11
They make us better and I
think they would say the
same about our group. We
both challenge each oth-
er to be great,” explained
Schiappa. Rich Kozak
has my greatest respect
- he’s a little crazy but in
a good way. I thought I
was the wild one, but he
may lose more sleep than
me heading into the new
season.... actually I don’t
think he sleeps. I proba-
bly text with Rich more
than anyone else. What
he’s doing with that Fron-
tier program is incredi-
ble. I would love to play
for a guy like that and
those kids are very lucky
to have him. The thing
about us is we have a gen-
uine relationship - 95%
of the time we get along
and if we don’t agree with
something we say it. He’s
like family to me.”
Rivals on the field, a
family off it.