INTERACTIVE BRACKET

AMHERST, Mass. – After battling to a scoreless stalemate through 90 minutes of regulation and an overtime period, Nico Pascual-Leone '16 netted a thrilling game winner in the 105th minute of play to give the No. 6 Amherst College men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Trinity University (Texas) in Sunday afternoon's NCAA Division III Championship Sectional Final at Hitchcock Field, which sealed the Purple & White's ticket to the Final Four in Kansas City, Mo.

RECORDS
Trinity (22-3-0)
Amherst (17-1-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a pair of shots by Pascual-Leone and Greg Singer '16 in the second period of overtime were blocked by the Tigers' defense, Amherst finally broke through as Aidan Murray '18 headed a ball onto the foot of Pascual-Leone inside the six-yard box, and the Wayland, Mass. native delivered a sensational goal for his team-leading 13th strike of the season. Cameron Bean '17 provided the secondary assist after heading the ball to Murray as the pair linked up nicely before Pascual-Leone struck for the winner.
• Thomas Bull '16 earned the win with his 15th shutout of the season, making five saves in the contest, including four in the second half.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• In a back-and-forth first half that saw Amherst carry most of the play, Christopher Martin '17 had a pair of opportunities early that curled just wide of the post.
• Trinity's first look at goal came in the form of Brent Mandelkorn who ripped a fading shot that struck the crossbar at the 17:56 mark.
• In the 32nd minute, Martin broke free again into the right side of the Trinity 18-yard box but a terrific point blank kick save by Tigers' goalkeeper Chad Margotta kept the game scoreless.
• Three minutes later, Austin Michaelis fired a shot across the face of goal, but a diving Bull was able to corral the ball.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• In the 71st minute, the Purple & White continued to press as Jackson Lehnhart '17 sent a beautiful corner kick that found the head of Andrew Orozco, but Margotta was in good position on his backline to catch the attempt. Minutes later, Pascual-Leone and Bryce Ciambella '17 had shots that were steered aside by Margotta.
• At the other end, a free kick shot by Lauren Wyke at the 79:22 mark was dealt with by Bull, while Derrick Horvath sent a shot towards goal that was fended off by the Amherst keeper in the 83rd minute. With under five minutes remaining in regulation, Ciambella's shot was blocked as the sides entered overtime knotted at 0-0.  
• After 90 minutes of play, Amherst held an 18-14 edge in shots and a 7-5 lead in shots on goal.

FIRST OVERTIME

• The Purple & White had a pair of looks in the first overtime, the first through Singer who tried an acrobatic volley that sailed wide right. Ciambella had the other look at a winner, but his shot was blocked as the sides played 10 more minutes of scoreless soccer.

SECOND OVERTIME

• In the second session of extra time, Pascual-Leone and Singer continued to press the Trinity goal but both of their shots were turned aside by the Tigers' defense.
• At the 104:53 mark, Amherst finally broke the deadlock as Pascual-Leone netted his fifth game-winning goal of the 2015 season off a well-timed header from Murray.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Amherst is making its third appearance in the national semifinals, and first since 2008.
• The Purple & White now stand at 24-10-9 in NCAA postseason games dating back to their first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 1993.
• One day removed from downing No. 15 Lycoming College and ending a 20-match unbeaten streak for the Warriors, Amherst halted a 17-match win streak for Trinity.

UP NEXT

• Amherst will take on No. 8 SUNY Oneonta in its national semifinal contest Friday, December 4 at 6 p.m. at the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo.
• Friday's other semifinal contest features No. 1 Calvin College, and the winner of No. 11 Loras College and No. 12 Wheaton College (Illinois). Loras and Wheaton will play their quarterfinal contest Monday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.
• Trinity concludes its season, 22-3-0 overall.