MIDDLETOWN, Conn. —The #21-ranked Amherst College men's soccer team traveled to Middletown, CT on Saturday afternoon to face Wesleyan University on Jackson Field. 
In a tight NESCAC matchup marked by momentum swings and high energy from both sides,

Wesleyan struck first late in the opening half before Amherst equalized early in the second half. The Cardinals, however, reclaimed the lead midway through the second half and held off the Mammoths' final push to secure a 2-1 victory.

"We competed hard today. That's what is expected out of an Amherst team, win, lose or draw," Mammoths' head coach Justin Serpone said. "I thought the game was about what happens in the two penalty boxes. They defended theirs a little better than we did and that was the difference. Wesleyan has been a little unlucky in the past few years against us, and they are a really good team and have been."

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• The opening 45 minutes saw back-and-forth play with both teams generating attacking opportunities. Amherst nearly broke through in the 34th minute when a scramble just outside the 18-yard box produced multiple looks on goal, but the Mammoths were unable to get a clean shot off.
• Wesleyan took the lead in the 38th minute after a driven cross from the top of the 18-yard box slipped through the Amherst back line and found an unmarked Wesleyan forward at the six-yard box for a tap-in finish.
• The Cardinals nearly doubled their lead minutes later with a dangerous header off another cross, but defender Riley Priddy made a crucial goal-line stop – blocking the initial attempt with his foot and heading the rebound clear to preserve the 1-0 score at halftime.
• Amherst came out energized in the second half, pressing high and winning 50-50 balls to put Wesleyan under pressure. The Mammoths' persistence paid off in the 55th minute when Mohammed Nuhu delivered back-to-back dangerous corners. Nuhu's second service found Priddy's head in the middle of the six-yard box. Priddy's header deflected off a Wesleyan defender before Sam Davis pounced on the rebound to tap it in from close range, leveling the score at 1-1.
• Wesleyan responded in the 77th minute with a free kick from the left side just outside the box. The service was redirected at the near post past goalkeeper Trey Sheppard to restore the Cardinals' lead at 2-1.
• Amherst continued to press until the final whistle; however, despite this late push, the Mammoths were unable to even the score before time expired.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Amherst controlled much of the attack, finishing with a 17–9 edge in shots and a 6–1 advantage in corner kicks.
• Forward Mohammed Nuhu was active up front, leading the team with 4 shots (3 on goal), followed by midfielder Michael Cherico, who added 3 attempts of his own.

UP NEXT:

• With this result, Amherst now moves to a 5-2-3 overall record (2-2-2 in NESCAC play).
• The Mammoths will travel to Keene, New Hampshire, on Wednesday, October 8, to take on Keene State at 6:00 p.m.
• "No one feels bad for us and we can't feel bad for ourselves. Keene State is a good team and we need to be ready on Wednesday," Serpone said.