The Amherst College men's soccer team is ready to hit the field in Greensboro, North Carolina, playing in the national semifinals for the fifth time in program history on Friday (Dec. 3) with a shot to be the NCAA Division III National Champions. It's familiar territory for Amherst, which won the title in 2015 and finished as runner-up in 2019 (the last season the tournament was played).

The Mammoths will face off against the University of Chicago at UNCG Soccer Stadium at 7:45 p.m. in the second semifinal match of the day, after Connecticut College plays Washington & Lee at 5 p.m. with a date in the national championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m. awaiting the winners.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

All 4 teams in Greensboro earned at-large bids to the tournament.

• Entering the tournament, Amherst defeated Rosemont (5-0), Babson (3-0), SUNY Cortland (4-1) and Middlebury (1-0) to reach the semifinals.
• Chicago secured a Final Four spot with wins over Webster (3-0), Otterbein (2-0), Calvin (1-0) and North Park (2-0).
• Connecticut College started their journey by defeating Salem State in PK's, then winning against NYU (3-0), Redlands (1-0) and Tufts (5-4). 
• Washington & Lee has defeated Baruch (6-1), Covenant (2-1), Christopher Newport (3-2) and Messiah (3-1). 

SCOUTING AMHERST (16-2-2)

• This year the Mammoths have been led by All-American German Giammattei with 28 points, Ada Okorogheye with 14 points and Laurens Ten Cate and Ignacio Cubeddu with 7 points each. Amherst has outscored opponents, 37-8, and has had on average 11 shots more than their opponents per game.
• Their stellar defense has been led by a solid backline of returning seniors led by Kyle Kelly, Felix Wu, Bryce Johnson and Gabe Gitler. The Amherst defense has only allowed 8 goals in 20 games this season, the fewest goals of any team in the nation, and held opponents to just 6.7 shots per game.
• Senior goalkeeper Kofi Hope-Gund (9-1-2) has amassed the majority of minutes this season with a 0.47 goals against average and an .854 save percentage with 35 saves and 7 shutouts.

SCOUTING CHICAGO (16-5-1)

• This is UChicago's fourth appearance in the NCAA semifinals (1996, 2017, 2018, 2021).
• Ryan Yetishefky leads the Maroons with 16 points off 7 goals and 2 assists playing in all 22 games this season. Chicago's offense is aided by Richard Gillespie and Ben Brandt both with 12 points.
• Calvin Walters led the team this year in goal, playing 16 games with 29 saves and 10 wins.

SCOUTING CONNECTICUT COLLEGE (17-4-1)

• After knocking out two-time defending champion Tufts in a 5-4 thriller in the quarterfinals, the Camels are advancing to their first semifinals in program history. Led by the NESCAC's Player of the Year Augie Djerdjaj with 5 goals and 3 assists, the Camels boast players with 10 points or more.
• Jack Kelesoglu has anchored a defense that has 12 shutouts to date and has allowed only one goal on four other occasions. He has contributed two goals and one assist. 

SCOUTING WASHINGTON & LEE (18-1-2)

• This tournament is the first time the Generals have reached the national semifinals. They are led by sophomore Adrian Zimmerman who has 16 goals and 36 points this season.
• The Generals' offense is aided by playmaker and midfielder Samuel Bass with 12 goals and 8 assists this year. 
• Michael Nyc has led Washington & Lee goalkeeping team this year with a record of 9-0-1 and 30 saves. 

BY THE NUMBERS