GREENSBORO, N.C. -- An 89th minute equalizer from the Mammoths set up a thrilling finish, leading the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship game all the way to penalty kicks, where Connecticut College emerged triumphant over the Amherst College men's soccer team as the Camels won the penalty kicks, 4-1, after a 1-1 game through 110 minutes on Saturday night at the UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium.

The Mammoths finish the season at 17-3-2, bringing the national runner-up trophy home from Greensboro for the second straight tournament.

"This season was an unbelievable journey," said Mammoths head coach Justin Serpone, who led Amherst to the national championship game for the third time. "I'm so proud of this group for their commitment and energy for the last four months. We stayed together for as long as is possible and they fought for each other up until the final moments of overtime ticked off the clock. Would we have loved to have won in PK's? Sure, but if you put your entire soil into something and truly try your best then you're going to be one of those people that makes the most of your life. That's what those kids did tonight and I'm grateful they let me be part of their story."

The Camels win the first national championship for Connecticut College in any sport and conclude the season at 19-4-1, a school record for wins.

"Connecticut College was terrific all weekend and Coach Burk has done incredibly after losing a great senior class after 2019," said Serpone. "As we did right after the game, we congratulate them on their championship. They had a run over the past few weeks that they will remember forever."

Mammoths junior midfielder Ignacio Cubeddu was named the Offensive MVP of the tournament, while senior goalkeeper Kofi Hope-Gund, sophomore striker Ada Okorogheye and first-year defenseman Laurens ten Cate earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• After a scoreless first half, the Camels broke through in the 60th minute when Augie Djerdjaj headed in his fifth goal of the season off a corner kick delivered by Rye Jaran.
• That slim lead held until the 89th minute when Cubeddu delivered a long free kick into the box, where it glanced off the back of Kyle Kelly and into the net to tie the game with just 87 seconds remaining in regulation.
• Both sides were scoreless through two golden goal overtime periods, sending the national championship match to penalty kicks. Camels netminder Peter Silvester saved Amherst's first two attempts while the Camels made their first three shots. Gabe Gitler scored for the Mammoths to keep the shootout going and with a chance to clinch the match for the Camels, Lorenzo Bocchetti converted his penalty kick to deliver the national championship.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Camels held a 14-12 edge in shots with a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. Connecticut College was awarded 6 corner kicks to Amherst's 3 with the Camels converting one of those opportunities into the only goal of the game.
• The national championship match was the second straight between two NESCAC foes after Tufts defeated Amherst in 2019, the last time this tournament was held. Connecticut College is the third straight NESCAC team to win the championship and sixth in the last seven tournaments, including Amherst's win in 2015.
• Tonight's game marked the final appearance in Purple and White for the 10 seniors in the Class of 2022, a group that amassed a record of 62-14-7 over the past four seasons while having their careers interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a group that includes Sebastian Derby, Sean Dube, German Giammattei, Gabe Gitler, Kofi Hope-Gund, Bryce Johnson, Kyle Kelly, Jack O'Brien, Dylan Steele and Felix Wu.
  • "The senior class is one of the most accomplished in Amherst history," said Serpone. "Four Sweet Sixteens, two championship game appearances, countless individual contributions and so many memories. They will be missed but not ever forgotten. The good news is we'll all be connected for a lifetime."