CLINTON, N.Y. - Senior goalkeeper
Trey Sheppard delivered a six-save shutout to anchor a heroic defensive effort as the Amherst College men's soccer team battled through a second-half red card to secure a 0-0 draw against Hamilton College on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Love Field.
Despite playing a man down for the final 33 minutes following a straight red card in the 57th minute, the Mammoths stood tall under heavy pressure, turning away 16 total shots from the Continentals to earn a hard-fought NESCAC point on the road.
With the draw, Amherst's record moves to 3-3-3 overall (0-3-3 NESCAC), while Hamilton stands at 3-4-4 (1-4-3 NESCAC). Amherst returns home on Tuesday, Oct. 13, hosting Keene State College for a 4 p.m. matchup at Hitchcock Field.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Amherst pressed early, earning back-to-back corner kicks in the opening seven minutes. In the seventh minute,
Jacob Dinzeo generated the Mammoths' lone shot on goal of the match, forcing Hamilton keeper Tobin Walsh into a save.
* Hamilton responded with threats of its own shortly after.
Trey Sheppard made his first stop of the afternoon in the 10th minute against Sean Curran before rising to deny a header from M. Alonso Mendoza in the 12th minute.
* The Mammoths came close to taking the lead in the 42nd minute when
Mohammed Nuhu launched a long-range strike that rattled off the crossbar, sending the match 0-0 at half.
* The action intensified after the break, culminating in the 57th minute when Amherst's
Vincent Akanbo received a red card, leaving the Mammoths down a player for the remaining 33 minutes of regulation.
* Faced with a short-handed defensive stand, Sheppard and the Amherst backline, led by full 90-minute performances from
Sam Davis,
Riley Priddy, and
Wilder Judelson, turned away a barrage of late opportunities. Sheppard collected key second-half saves on shots from M. Alonso Mendoza in the 49th minute, Zach Tracy in the 51st and 89th minutes, and Oliver Mylon in the 65th minute to lock down the clean sheet.
BY THE NUMBERS:
*
Obed Opoku paced the Amherst attack off the bench with a team-high four shots, while
Mohammed Nuhu added two shots, including his first-half attempt off the crossbar.
Jacob Dinzeo registered the Mammoths' sole shot on target.
* Troy Miller led Hamilton with five shots, while Sean Curran, Zach Tracy, and M. Alonso Mendoza each put two shots towards goal.
* The Continentals held a 16-12 edge in total shots and a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal. Amherst held a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.
* Amherst goalkeeper
Trey Sheppard made six saves over 90 minutes to preserve the shutout, while Hamilton's Tobin Walsh recorded one save in 90 minutes.
