Men's Soccer: National Champions
Issue   |   Thu, 05/19/2016 - 19:10
Amherst Athletics

The men’s soccer team had a fairytale season, going 18-1-2 overall en route to the program’s first-ever national championship. After falling to Brandeis in the third round of the NCAA tournament in their 2014 season, the squad was back and hungry for more before graduating one of the most talented and decorated classes that the program has ever seen.

Under the leadership of Division III coach of the year Justin Serpone, the purple and white came back from a goal deficit, netting two unanswered to claim the national championship over Loras College.

That game marked only the third time this season that Amherst had trailed in a game, due mostly to the outstanding Amherst defense.

The purple and white lead the country in opponent points against, at 0.23, thanks to senior goalkeeper, Division III All-American, and goalkeeper of the year Thomas Bull.

Over this stellar season, Bull has notched a .936 save percentage, and a 0.23 goals against average — both led the nation — and registered 16 clean sheets as he set a new NCAA Division III men’s soccer record for shutouts with 50 over his celebrated career.

On the offensive side, fellow senior Nico Pascual-Leone led the team in goals scored and also garnered Division III All-American honors for his success, scoring a team-high five game winning goals.

Looking ahead to next season, the team will have big shoes to fill as they lose six seniors including Bull, Pascual-Leone and offensive powerhouse Greg Singer.