SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Amherst College scored twice midway through the first half as the 10th-ranked Jeffs men's soccer team posted a 2-0 victory over non-league foe Western New England University in Wednesday afternoon's contest at Suprenant Field in Springfield, Mass.

With the win, Amherst improves to 3-0-0 on the season, while Western New England moves to 2-4-0 overall.

Amherst burst out of the gate with early pressure as Nico Pascual-Leone '16 sent a header on target that was saved by Western New England goalkeeper Kevin Strobel just 33 seconds into the contest. The Jeffs' senior had a trio of other early chances as his free kick from 25 yards out went high, his header was saved, and another attempt was blocked by the Golden Bears' defensive line.

In the 23rd minute of action, Greg Singer '16 blasted a shot that went wide, but the Purple & White finally broke through shortly thereafter when he headed a ball down in the box that was volleyed into the back of the net by Christopher Martin '17 to give Amherst a 1-0 lead at the 26:44 mark. The goal was Martin's team-leading fourth of the season.

Just over three minutes later, the Jeffs doubled their advantage when Pascual-Leone gathered in a long free kick off the foot of goalie Thomas Bull '16, and finished with his first goal of the campaign.

Amherst finished with 10 shots (four on goal) in the first 45 minutes of action. Western New England managed just one shot – a header by Colin Macdonald – that went wide of goal; while Strobel finished with two saves in the stanza for the Golden Bears.  

Just 1:37 into the second half, Amherst looked to make its lead three goals when Martin fired a shot on target, but it was saved by Strobel.

Western New England, which edged the Jeffs, 5-3 in shots in the second half, placed its first shot on net in the 55th minute through Troy Remillard but Bull turned away the try to keep the visitors ahead, 2-0.

At the 73:35 mark, Remillard had another opportunity when a pass was directed to him in the box, but his near post attempt crept wide of the frame keeping the score at 2-0 in favor of the Purple & White.

In the 76th minute, the Golden Bears threatened again when Macdonald fired a free kick that went off the crossbar and then corralled the ricochet and lofted the rebound over the goal.

Late in the contest, Amherst defender Sean Fitzgerald '19 headed a shot wide of the goal, while Singer's shot was stopped by Strobel as the Jeffs finished with a 13-6 differential in shots, and a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal.

Strobel stopped four shots in the losing effort for Western New England, while Bull registered his third consecutive clean sheet to start the season needing to make just one save in the process.

Amherst returns to NESCAC action Saturday, September 19 when it hosts Middlebury College at 2:30 p.m. at Hitchcock Field.