AMHERST, Mass. – Nico Pascual-Leone '16 scored twice as the No. 2 Amherst College men's soccer team posted a decisive, 4-0 victory over 24th ranked Connecticut College in Tuesday afternoon's NESCAC tilt at Hitchcock Field. 

RECORDS
Connecticut College (8-3-1, 4-3-1 NESCAC)
Amherst (11-0-0, 6-0-0 NESCAC)

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Just 58 seconds into the match, Amherst was off and running as the Purple & White was awarded a corner kick. Pascual-Leone delivered the ball to the far post through a crowd of defenders and first-year Luke Nguyen got on the end of the feed to record his first collegiate goal.
• In the 35th minute of action, Amherst took advantage of another set piece opportunity as Nguyen lifted a corner kick into the box. Pascual-Leone settled the ball and fired into the back of the net to give the Purple & White a 2-0 lead.
• With less than 10 minutes to play, Graham Koval and Ben Manoongian took aim at the Amherst goal, but Purple & White goalkeeper Thomas Bull '16 was able to collect each strike en route to keeping his ninth clean sheet of the season.
• Amherst held an 18-12 advantage in shots, and a 9-7 edge in shots on goal. Bull made seven saves in the winning effort, while Austin DaCunha made five stops for Conn. College.
• Pascual-Leone notched three shots on goal to lead Amherst's offensive efforts, while the back line of Justin Aoyama '17, Cameron Bean '17, Jackson Lehnhart '17, and Bryce Ciambella '17 was stellar throughout the contest.

UP NEXT

• Amherst returns to NESCAC action Saturday, Oct. 17 at Colby College at 1:30 p.m. and then travels to Bates College for a 3 p.m. start Sunday, Oct. 18.
• Connecticut College returns to action Tuesday, Oct. 20 when it travels to Framingham State University for a 4 p.m. non-league encounter.

Camel Tracks Not Including Tuesday's Game:

The Camels had another big week, securing 1-0 victories against Eastern Connecticut State University and Bates College.  Junior central midfielder Pat Devlin of Washington Crossing, Pa. is leading the way for the Camels, who are trying to qualify for the NCAA Championship since 1993. Devlin has two goals and one assist so far this season and he is the most dominant midfielder this program has had in recent history.

Meanwhile on the forward line, freshman Mark Leon of Wrentham, Mass. continues to make an impact in his first season on the pitch. Leon factored into both difference making goals this week as the surging Camels extended their unbeaten streak to seven games. Wednesday afternoon, Leon assisted Chris Lockwood (Glastonbury, Conn.) on his score that vaulted the Camels past Eastern Connecticut State University in a 1-0 blanking.

Saturday afternoon, Leon scored in the 19th minute of action, propelling the Camels to a 1-0 triumph against Bates. It was the sixth goal of the season for the rising star, marking the highest goal total for a Camel freshman men's soccer player since current assistant coach Trevor Prophet '10  netted six scores in 2007.  Leon is tied for fourth place in the NESCAC with his six goals scored and is fifth in total offensive production with 14 points. 

Lockwood has accounted for eight points with three goals and two assists.  Junior keeper Austin DaCunha of Brookfield, Conn. has been one of the most improved players on the team. DaCunha is playing with a much higher level of confidence this year and has moved into a tie for second place in the NESCAC with five shutouts, while ranking sixth in the conference with a .78 goals against average.

Sticking with the defense, 2014 & 2015 Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar and senior captain Ajami Gikandi (Princeton, N.J.), sophomores Brooks lark (Boxford, Mass.) and Nate Summers (Westfield, Mass.) along with freshman Tim Hilbrunner (Groton, Mass.) were all terrific this week as DaCunha's back four. Let's not forget the play of holding midfielder Colin Patch (Providence, R.I.) who has been winning more than his share of 50/50 battles.