Connecticut Col. CONNECTI (7-6-5, 3-5-2)

Amherst AMHERST (12-1-5, 4-1-5)

Connecticut Col. CONNECTI

(7-6-5, 3-5-2)

Final

Nov. 06, 2022

Amherst AMHERST

(12-1-5, 4-1-5)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	OT 1	OT 2	F
Connecticut Col. CONNECTI	1	0	0	0	1
Amherst AMHERST	0	1	1	0	2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | 11/6/2022 4:03:00 PM

Men's Soccer Loses Heartbreaker To Amherst In NESCAC Title Game

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Connecticut College men's soccer team fell to Amherst in the NESCAC Championship title game on Sunday afternoon at Williams College. The Camels put forth a gutsy effort for 110 minutes but ultimately came up just short in double overtime by a score of 2-1.

Amherst junior Declan Sung scored the game-winner in the 96^th minute to clinch the victory and the sixth NESCAC title for the Mammoths. Sung headed in a cross from teammate Micah Valadez Bush, just past the grasp of Camels' keeper Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda).

Following the goal, Conn desperately tried to even the score in the remaining 14 minutes of the overtime periods. The Camels earned several corner kicks, but Amherst loaded the penalty box with defenders to prevent the equalizer. In the final minute of play, Oliver Pinyochon (Newburyport, Mass.) was able to land a header on goal, but Williams keeper Bernie White snagged the shot to seal the victory for the Mammoths.

The game was a hotly contested and physical affair between the conference rivals. Saturday's matchup marked the first time that the two teams have played each other in the postseason since Conn's win over Amherst in the 2021 NCAA Championship game.

For much of the first half, both squads showcased their outstanding defensive prowess. Coming into the title game, Amherst and Conn only conceded one goal each throughout the entirety of the conference tournament. Through the first 40 minutes, there were a total of two combined shots, as most of the action occurred near the midfield.

The Camels found their opportunity in the 41^stminute, when senior Alex Robles (Reston, Va.) controlled the ball near the left wing. Robles cut into the penalty area splitting two defenders in the process. The senior turned and fired a low shot, beating White to the near post and giving Conn the 1-0 lead.

Following the halftime break, the Mammoths came out with a heightened sense of urgency. At the 57:37 mark, Ben Clark-Eden crossed a pass into the box that found the head of 6'8" Shawn Rapal, who was able to rise above a Camels' defender and get the shot off. Rapal's header clanged off the left post and caromed into the back of the net for the equalizing score.

Conn had an opportunity to retake the lead in the 68^th minute when Jack Kelesoglu (Westfield, N.J.) landed a header on goal, but the attempt was snuffed out by White.

In the 80^th minute, the Camels defense stood strong after Amherst forward Aidan Curtis took two shots from only seven yards out. Roman Dutkewych (Ellington, Conn.) and Marco Cerezo (Malaga, Spain) both put their bodies in front of the attempts to keep the Mammoths off the scoreboard.

With less than 10 minutes left to play, Nate Pilson (Wilmington, Del.) was able to rocket a shot on goal at a tough angle. However, White blocked off the near post and made the save to keep the score tied and sent the game into overtime, which set up Sung's eventual game-winner.

For Conn, the heartbreaking loss marks the second consecutive season that the Camels have been stopped in the NESCAC Championship title game. Amherst (12-1-5) collects its first conference title since 2016.

Both goalkeepers were outstanding throughout the game. Silvester made five saves overall including two on breakaway opportunities in the second overtime period. White stopped six shots for the Mammoths.

Connecticut College (7-5-5) will now wait and see if its resume is strong enough to warrant an at-large berth in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The selection show is set for Monday, November 7 at 1:30 p.m. on the NCAA website.

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Team Statistics

Team Statistics
Game Stats	CONNECTI	AMHERST
Goals	1	2
Shots	8	13
Shots on Goal	8	7
Saves	5	6
Corners	4	5
Offsides	3	2
Fouls	12	22

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team	Scoring Play
Score at 40:03
	Alex Robles (2) Assisted By: Oliver Pinyochon *
Score at 57:37
	Shawn Rapal (2) Assisted By: Ben Clark-Eden *
Score at 96:30
	Declan Sung (4) Assisted By: Micah Valadez Bush , Fynn Hayton-Ruffner *