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MSOC NCAA 2nd Round Stevens 111724
Kris Dufour
1
Stevens STEVENS (12-3-5)
1
Amherst AMHERST (12-2-4)
Stevens STEVENS
(12-3-5)
1
Final
1
Amherst AMHERST
(12-2-4)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Stevens STEVENS 0 1 0 0 1
Amherst AMHERST 0 1 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Perfect penalty shootout sends #8 Amherst to NCAA Sweet Sixteen over Stevens

AMHERST, MA — The #8 Amherst College men's soccer team came through a nailbiting match in the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament on Sunday afternoon. On Hitchcock Field, the Mammoths tied the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks with a score of 1-1 before prevailing from a penalty shootout.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
  • From the kick-off, the Mammoths came out with intent and peppered the Stevens goal. In the twelfth minute, Simon Kalinauskas came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock with a short-range shot from a skimming cross that was denied by a crucial block. Stevens' goalkeeper, Guillermo Castaneda Chang, was instrumental in keeping the Ducks alive, making four vital saves in the first half to thwart Amherst's relentless attack. Despite their dominance, the Mammoths were held to a scoreless draw at halftime.
  • The breakthrough finally came in the second half. A perfectly delivered corner kick from sophomore Mohammed Nuhu found first-year Michael Cherico, who rose majestically above the defense to head the ball powerfully into the net. The 6'5" Californian marked his fifth goal of the season to give the Mammoths a deserved lead.
  • Amherst continued to dominate aerially, creating multiple chances to extend their lead. Cherico nearly doubled his tally with another header, but this attempt lacked the power to beat Castaneda Chang, who made an impressive diving save. Kalinauskas later came tantalizingly close, his header from a corner grazing just over the bar.
  • With time running out, the Ducks seemed destined for defeat, but a moment of magic in the dying seconds turned the tide. A cross along the ground from the right wing deflected into Terry Thompson's path. With poise, Thompson rifled a clean strike into the top corner, leveling the score at 1-1 with just 30 seconds left on the clock. The dramatic equalizer marked Thompson's fourth goal of the season and forced another twenty minutes of playing time.
  • The overtime periods were a cagey affair relative to the first 90 minutes. Cherico tested the goalkeeper with a speculative long-range effort, while Amherst's goalkeeper, senior Max Landa, showcased his composure by catching a dangerous shot from the left. Neither side could find the winning goal, sending the game to penalties.
  • The Mammoths held their nerve in the shootout. Mohammed Nuhu, senior Fynn Hayton-Ruffner, and first-year Jacob Lahlou all converted their spot-kicks with precision, while the Ducks faltered. Landa emerged as the hero, making two spectacular saves after the first Ducks' penalty rattled off the woodwork. 
BY THE NUMBERS: 
  • Amherst had 28 shots (10 on goal); Stevens had 7 (2 on goal).
  • Amherst committed 18 fouls; Stevens made 15. 
UP NEXT:
  • Amherst now holds a 12-2-4 overall record (7-2-2 versus NESCAC opposition).
  • Up next: Amherst's progresses to the third round in which 16 teams remain in the NCAA Tournament. They will next take on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets next weekend, who also came through their Round of 32 match via penalties. Time and location TBD.
QUOTES - Amherst Head Coach, Justine Serpone:
  • "That was a great game. I have so much respect for Coach Jordan and the Stevens group. We played them last year in the second round. I have no emotions left in my body right now. That was an unbelievable game. We knew it was going to be a great game and it certainly was. Both teams gave their absolute all for 110 minutes today. I'm happy we get to spend another week together and can keep going."
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