LEWISTON, Maine – The No. 9 ranked Amherst College men's soccer team rebounded from a double overtime loss on Saturday by coming from behind to beat Bates College 2-1 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's soccer action Sunday afternoon. 

Amherst (7-2-2, 4-2-2 NESCAC) has a mid-week non-conference game next on their slate, travelling to Mt. St. Mary (NY) on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. 

Aziz Khan '18 became the seventh different Mammoth to score a game-winning goal when he broke a 1-1 tie at the 65 minute mark. Khan beat Bates keeper Robbie Montanaro with a shot into the bottom left corner after Sebastian Derby '21 found him from midfield at the top of the box. 

"When your backs are against the wall you look to your Seniors to respond, and they did that today. The goals came from Aziz and Kieran and we got great minutes from Sam and Aidan as well," said head coach Justin Serpone. "Bates was threatening all game. Coach Flaherty has done a great job with their group and they have a lot of good players. Today was another tough NESCAC game, as they all are." 

The teams went to the break tied at one, with Bates striking first at the 26:08 mark and the Mammoths tying the game just five minutes later. 

The Bobcats broke through with Beaufils Kimpolo-Pene's third goal of the season. A Bates corner started the scoring play, with Peder Bakken and Drew Munoz teaming up to set up Kimpolo-Pene seven yards out. 

Kieran Bellew '19 tied the game with his second goal of the year, chipping over Montanaro, who made five saves in the contest. Bijan Zojaji '20 fed Bellew on a deep pass, and Bellew did the rest, beating his defender down the left sideline. 

Game Notes

• The Bobcats had a slim 18-17 shot advantage, while Amherst had a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
• Michael Stone '21 made six saves and has now won both of his first two collegiate decisions in net.
• This was the first time that Bates has scored against the Mammoths since 2013, with Amherst earning shutouts the last three times out against the Bobcats.
• Coach Serpone about the Mammoth's next game: "We have to get healthy quickly. Mt. St. Mary's is a very good program and we've had trouble there in the past (2-2 tie in 2014)."