After the fireworks of three straight double overtime victories, the No. 2-ranked Amherst College men’s soccer teamed enjoyed a less dramatic but equally impressive week. In three games this week, the Jeffs defeated NESCAC foes Connecticut College and Hamilton as well as non-conference opponent Mount Saint Mary in lopsided victories. With the wins, the purple and white keep their undefeated record intact at 11-0-0 (6-0-0 NESCAC).
The Jeffs’ offense thrived throughout the week with 10 goals in three games, while the defense, directed by senior goalkeeper Thomas Bull ’16 extended its shutout streak to four games, totalling over 490 minutes.
Traveling to New York for a game against Mount Saint Mary on Wednesday, Oct. 7, Amherst posted a solid 3-0 victory over their hosts. The Jeffs opened brightly, pinning Mount Saint Mary in its half and claiming three corners within the first 20 minutes.
Junior defender Cameron Bean hit the post in the 18th minute, but despite its dominant play, Amherst struggled to finish its opportunities.
The breakthrough came just before the half, when senior midfielder Tommy Haskel sent in a 45th-minute corner kick.
Sophomore defender Cameron Hardington pounced on the loose ball at the top of the box and finished for his first goal of the season.
Still in control of the game, the Jeffs doubled their lead soon after the break. In the 57th minute, senior forward Nico Pascual-Leone received a through ball from Milton Rico ’16, cleverly chipping the ball over Peluso and into the net.
Amherst added another in the 75th minute when junior forward Jackson Lehnhart put in a corner and Aziz Khan ’18 finished from the scramble in the Mount Saint Mary box.
On Saturday, the purple and white took down NESCAC rivals Hamilton 3-0 with three goals within a ten-minute span during the second half.
Amherst struggled to assert their dominance in the first-half and the team created few opportunities.
The Continentals matched the Jeffs in shots on target with three.
Amherst’s best chance to take the lead came in the 22nd minute, when sophomore midfielder Sam Malnik saw his effort cleared off the line by Hamilton’s Mike Lubelczyk.
The Jeffs took the lead in the second half. In the 54th minute, junior forward Chris Martin saw his direct free kick saved, but senior forward Greg Singer put the rebound into the net.
Martin scored a goal himself just three minutes later. After junior defender Justin Aoyama found him on a long ball, Martin beat his defended and slid the ball past the goalkeeper at the near post.
In the 63rd minute, Bryce Ciambella ’17 linked up with Aidan Murray ’18, whose cross to Andrew Orozco ’17 finished inside the far post to make the match 3-0.
Amherst then defeated NESCAC foes Connecticut College 4-0 on Tuesday. Pascual-Leone led the Jeffs with two goals and an assist, while first-year midfielder Luke Nguyen added a goal and an assist as well.
The Jeffs scored within the first minute, when Nguyen met a Pascual-Leone corner at the far post for his first goal of the season.
The first-year and senior then switched places in the 35th minute. Nguyen swung in a corner that Pascual-Leone settled and fired into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Early in the second half, Singer found Rico, who finished into the right corner to give Amherst a three-goal advantage in the 48th minute. Pascual-Leone made it 4-0 in the 61st minute when he finished Martin’s cross for his sixth goal of the season.
Bull made seven saves to keep his ninth clean sheet of the year, and the defense has only given up two goals through 12 games this season.
The Jeffs now have only four games, all against NESCAC competition, left this season. They travel to Maine for a game at Colby this Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m. The purple and white then face travel to Bates on Sunday for another conference showdown on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.
