HENNIKER, N.H. – The ninth-ranked Amherst College men's soccer team used a game-winning goal by Bryce Ciambella '17 in the 96th minute of action to spark the Jeffs to a 2-1 overtime victory over New England College on Tuesday evening at Don Melander Field.

With the win, Amherst begins its 2014 campaign 1-0-0 while NEC moves to 0-2-0 overall following its second overtime setback of the season.

After playing a scoreless first half that saw Amherst hold a 16-1 advantage in shots and a 7-2 difference in corners, the Jeffs finally broke through in the 52nd minute of play when Amherst was awarded a penalty kick. Jae Heo '15E stepped up to the spot and scorched the back of the net with his first goal of the season putting the Jeffs ahead, 1-0.

NEC answered 23 minutes later when Manny Arteaga '15 controlled a pass from classmate Brandon Currier and beat Amherst net-minder Thomas Bull '16 with the equalizer leveling the score at 1-1 in the 75th minute of play. The Pilgrims outshot Amherst, 6-5 in the second half and both sides had four corners each en route to extra time.

In the first overtime period, the Jeffs pressured the NEC backline reeling off four shots before Ciambella corralled a loose ball in the box and struck for the game-winner in the 96th minute of action sending the Jeffs to a 2-1 victory.

Amherst notched 26 total shots in the contest including 16 on target, while NEC notched seven shots with two on goal in the losing effort.

Tenzin Khenrab '17 was stellar between the pipes for the Pilgrims turning away 14 shots, including 11 in the first half, while Bull needed only one save to preserve the win for Amherst.

In the opening period, Amherst wasted little time pressuring the NEC net as Heo fired a shot that glanced off the post just 1:51 into the contest. The Jeffs strung together three early corner kicks keeping play in the Pilgrims' defensive third of the field and totaled seven in the first 45 minutes of action but could not break through.

Nico Pascual-Leone '16 led all players with five shots on goal and Heo added four, while Greg Singer '16 and Gabriel Wirz '15 each tested the keeper twice in the contest.

Amherst returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 7 when it travels to Middlebury College for its 2014 NESCAC opener at 3:30 p.m.