NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's soccer team fell in their NESCAC Conference opener to #1 Amherst 2-0 on Saturday afternoon from Freeman field. Conn falls to 0-1-1 and 0-1 in conference play, while Amherst improves to 1-0-1 on the year and 1-0 in NESCAC action.
Amherst started quickly, forcing an early save from TJ Krongard (Montclair, N.J.) just four and a half minutes into the contest. Conn grew into the contest and just three and a half minutes later, nearly took the lead. Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) let a shot rip from outside the box that nearly curled into the top corner, but struck the post and stayed out.
Both defenses held strong, but it was the Mammoths who drew first blood. Vincent Akanbo laid off a ball to Timothy Chow, who found the bottom corner to make it 1-0 in the 27th minute. Neither side generated much over the final 20 minutes of the half, as Amherst remained in front 1-0 at the break.
Conn had a strong start to the second half, as Freddie Taylor (Needham Heights, Mass.) nearly evened the score, but was turned aside with an early save from Trey Sheppard. However, just seven nine minutes into the half, Amherst doubled the advantage. The Mammoths were awarded a penalty kick, but Krongard came up with the save on Mohammed Nuhu, however, on the ensuing corner Leo Wilensky made it 2-0.
With just over two minutes remaining, Amherst was given a red card, as Sam Davis was given his second red card of the contest, as Conn played a man up for the remainder of the contest. Conn upped the pressure with the extra player, as both Shinya Frank (Menlo Park, Calif.) and Elliot Spatz (Bellevue, Wash.) put shots high. Spatz had another shot blocked in the 81st minute, before inclement weather forced the rest of the game to be called off.
It was a physical game throughout between the conference rivals, as the teams combined for nine cards in the match, with Amherst being given six yellow cards and one red card, to Conn's two yellow cards.
Conn outshot Amherst 10-9, while the Mammoths held a 4-2 edge on shots on target, with the Camels an 11-3 advantage on corner kicks.
Krongard made two stops in net for Conn. Perugini, Spatz, and Gavin Vanden Berg (Lake Forest Park, Wash.) led the way with two shots each, while Taylore and Vanden Berg each had one shot on target.
Sheppard picked up the win in goal, finishing with two saves. Chow and Wilensky each recorded one goal, while Akanbo added one assist.
Conn heads out onto the road for the first time, as the Camels travel to Kings Point, N.Y. to take on the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.
