CORTLAND, NY. — The Amherst College men's soccer team's 2025 season came to an end on Saturday, November 15th, with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in overtime to the Catholic University  Cardinals in the Round of 64 of the NCAA championship bracket.

The game was held at SUNY Cortland's Grant Field.

Saturday's game came with many difficulties, as the weather delayed the game on three occasions. The game had a delayed start and a long break in the 31st minute. The game was able to continue until the 3rd minute of overtime, when it had to be stopped again due to rain. When the teams returned to play, it took Catholic 4 minutes to earn a penalty and score the only goal of the day, taking them to the Round of 32. 

"We played our hearts out today," head coach Justin Serpone said. "I thought we were on them right from the beginning until the end. It was a crazy game with all of the weather delays. Our energy and commitment were terrific all afternoon. Having said that, Catholic is a good team and we wish them luck in the tournament moving forward.

"Sometimes it's your turn, and sometimes it's someone else's turn. That's sports. I couldn't be prouder of the effort today and this senior class will forever be champions.  They are an awesome group of people and I'm grateful to have spent four years around those guys."

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• First-year Timothy Chow took an early attempt at a goal in the 7th minute when he found the ball left of the box, where he set the shot up with his right foot, missing the frame slightly over the top right of the crossbar. 
• The Mammoths had a good chance in the 25th minute when Mohammed Nuhu caught a lob pass in the left of the box, taking a volley towards the goal, missing the shot just left of the goal. 
• Before the first rain delay in the 31st minute of the game, the Mammoths had the Cardinals under tremendous pressure, creating many consecutive opportunities to score. In the span of 4 minutes, the Mammoths earned five corner kicks, but were unable to capitalize on them to take the lead.
• The game continued to be incredibly intense and physical in the second half, with both teams continuing strong defense. The Mammoths had two great chances to score at the end stages of the second half. In the 84th minute, Riley Priddy had his sixth shot on goal this season, which the Cardinals saved from the bottom left of the goal. In the final minute of the period, Vincent Akanbo gained possession in the middle of the Cardinals' box and took an unlucky shot, which hit the right post of the goal, forcing the game into overtime.
• In the 3rd minute of overtime, the game was stopped again due to heavy rainfall. After returning to the pitch in the 94th minute, both teams continued their strong defense and physicality. In the 97th minute, Amherst committed a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty for Catholic. Holden Woodings put the ball to the bottom left of the goal with Trey Sheppard guessing to the right side, closing out the game.
• "I didn't see what happened on the penalty," Serpone said. "I thought we could have gotten one a few mins earlier but that's soccer. Unfortunate but in the NCAA Tournament the margins are that small."

BY THE NUMBERS: 

• Amherst had 14 shots (3 on goal) to Catholic's 9 (3 on goal)
• Amherst led in corners with 12 to Catholic's 6, and had 23 fouls to Catholic's 21
• The Mammoths finished the season with an 8-6-3 record.