AMHERST, Mass. – Four Camels converted from the spot in penalty kicks, and Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) made two saves, as the Connecticut College men's soccer team advanced past host Amherst College in the NESCAC quarterfinals 1-1, 4-2 on penalty kicks, on Saturday afternoon from Hitchcock Field. With the draw, Conn moves to 8-2-6 overall, while Amherst moves to 11-2-3 on the year.
Amherst came out strong, recording the first four shots of the contest, including three on target in the opening nine and half minutes, but Silvester turned them all away. Conn got their first shot 30 seconds later, but Matt Scoffone (Thornton, Pa.) put the effort wide.
After another save from Silvester, the Camels came to life with four shots on goal in the span of 10 minutes. Three were stopped by Trey Sheppard, but the fourth found the back of the net, as Matt Quiros-Newton (Alajeula, Costa Rica) made it 1-0 with 13 and a half minutes left in the half. The Mammoths tried to even the score, but Conn led 1-0 at the break.
The second half started slowly, with just four combined shots in the opening 20 minutes, two from each side. Amherst put both chances on goal, but Silvester was sharp, while Sam Boehm (Lexington, Mass.) had his shot saved, and Elliot Spatz (Bellevue, Wash.) had one blocked.
With just over 19 minutes remaining, Amherst found the tying goal, as Michael Cherico found the back of the net, making it 1-1. The Mammoths had the last chance to win the game in regulation as Mohammed Nuhu forced a save from Silvester in the dying seconds to send the game to overtime tied at one.
Conn started the first extra session strong, as Quiros-Newton forced a finger tip save from Sheppard just over a minute in. The Camels had the best chance to end it in the first period, as Scoffone was taken down right on the edge of the box, earning a corner kick. On the ensuing kick, Rye Jaran (Downingtown, Pa.) had the effort blocked as the game headed to a second overtime. Neither side generated much in the second extra session, as the game headed to penalty kicks.
Scoffone opened the spot kicks with a goal, before Amherst answered, tying the score at one. Conn blinked first, as Max Haberman's (San Diego, Calif.) effort was stopped, with the Mammoths converting to lead 2-1 after two. Spatz tied the score at two, before Silvester took over with a save, keeping it knotted at two. Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) put the Camels back in front, with Silvester following up with his second save in as many shots, meaning Conn just needed a goal to advance. Gavin Mpiana (Cape Town, South Africa) stepped up to the spot, and converted, giving Conn the 4-2 penalty kicks win.
Amherst outshot Conn 16-14 overall, and 11-7 on shots on target, with both teams earning three corner kicks.
Silvester was fantastic in goal, stopping 11 shots during regulation and overtime, before adding two saves in the shootout. Quiros-Newton tallied the lone goal in open play, while Mpiana, Perugini, Scoffone, and Spatz each converted from the spot.
Sheppard got the start in goal, making six saves, before being replaced by Max Landa for the shootout, who stopped one of five shots. Cherico scored the lone goal for the Mammoths with Nuhu picking up the assist.
Conn advances to the NESCAC semifinals for the fourth straight year, and will await to see who they play next Saturday, with a time, location, and opponent to be determined.
