AMHERST, Mass. — The #6 Amherst College men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking loss on penalty kicks to the #18 Mary Washington Eagles in the NCAA Championship Elite 16 on Saturday afternoon on Hitchcock Field.

The two teams battled for 110 minutes. Mary Washington had a 2-0 lead in the first half, but Amherst battled back on the strength of two Aidan Curtis goals, to knot things 2-2. After a scoreless overtime, the Eagles prevailed in PKs, 4-3. 

The loss ends Amherst's 2022 season. 

"I couldn't be more proud of our guys," Justin Serpone, Amherst's head coach, said. "We fought all the way today, it just wasn't meant to be. You can't win them all, but you can try to, and that's what we're all about. What makes college sports so amazing is the lessons you take. I hope that these guys remember how much passion and energy they just put into the last three months. I know I won't ever forget it."

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

*  Within 52 seconds of kick-off, the away side took the lead. Abel Luwis assisted Josh Kirkland who converted the first shot of the game into the opening goal. Thirty minutes later, the lower-ranked team doubled their lead. This time, Aidan Shell and Diego Guzman collaborated to set up Kirkland's second goal of the game. The Mammoths, using their experience of being behind in important situations during this season and in the past, stayed level-headed and pulled a vital goal back at the 41st minute mark - four minutes before halftime. Sophomore Aidan Curtis was the goal scorer with the help of senior Alex Shahmirzadi and junior Declan Sung. Curtis connected from a sublime cross. 

* Amherst's second top scorer was on target again in the second half to level the scoring with a goal created by Junior Ada Okorogheye. From the 65th minute to the last, and through over time, the 2-2 score line remained. Eagles looked like they would score the winning goal when they were awarded a penalty kick late into the second half. However, Amherst's goalkeeper, senior Bernie White, made a spectacular save to save the Mary Washington effort from the penalty spot to keep the Mammoths in the game. 

* The two teams ended up playing 10-on-10 soccer for the last nine minutes of regulation and all 20 minutes of overtime as two red cards were distributed, one to each team. 

* With the score remaining even after 110 minutes of play, penalty kicks forced the result. Amherst lost with a score of 4-3 after missing the first two penalty kicks. 

"Credit to Mary Washington on a terrific game," Serpone said. "They have a great team, which we knew coming into the match. They made plays in both boxes today and that's what it's about."

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst now holds a 14-1-6 overall record (4-1-5 in NESCAC regular season; 3-0-0 in NESCAC post-season; 2-0-1 in NCAA Championship) for the season. 

* "Bernie, Alex, Nico, and Andrew are going to be missed on and off the field," Seron said. "They were awesome all year, and although they won't be in uniform, we'll be friends forever. I'll miss them deeply."

* The Mammoths took 15 shots (10 on goal); Mary Washington took 14 shots (10 on goal).