WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore Fynn Hayton-Ruffner's sixth goal of the season gave the Amherst College men's soccer team the only goal they needed to overcome the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Engineers at Alumni Stadium on Tuesday at 7pm.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Amid the torrential rainfall, Amherst had to quickly adjust to WPI's artificial turf field - a different surface to the grass of Williams College's Cole Field, where the Mammoths played their last game. WPI had the first shot of the game and forced Amherst's goalkeeper, Senior Bernie White, to make a save in the seventh minute. Junior Declan Sung responded in Amherst's first scoring opportunities with two shots around the twelve-minute mark which both ended up high over the crossbar. Sung's next two shots forced a WPI block and a save as Amherst acclimatized to the conditions and began taking control of the game. The half ended with a shot from Sophomore Ben Clark-Eden, but the score remained 0-0. 

* The second half began with both teams looking to break the goalless scoreline. The Mammoths succeeded in firing the ball past WPI goalkeeper, Roe Hendrick, for the first and only occasion during the game. From the left side of the field and twenty yards from the goal-line, Sophomore Micah Valadez Bush lasered a first-time cross into the box for his fifth assist of the season. Hayton-Ruffner had found a gap of space in the penalty box in between two WPI defenders to meet the ball and header the ball into the top right corner. The Mammoths' top-scorer wheeled away to celebrate opening the scoring with his coaches and teammates on the sidelines. 

* A patch of scrappy soccer ensued the goal, and the referee blew the whistle for seven fouls in ten minutes. Amherst began attacking shortly after, with Sung being the predominant shot-taker for the Mammoths in a similar trend to the first half. Junior Shawn Rapal also had a promising headed effort, which missed wide of the goal. WPI's final effort of the game was blocked by valiant Amherst defending as Amherst professionally closed the game without conceding a goal to secure their sixth win of the season. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst now holds a 6-1-3 overall record (1-1-3 in NESCAC) for the season.

*Up next: Amherst will return to playing NESCAC opposition on Saturday. For Senior Day, the Mammoths will host the #9 Wesleyan University Cardinals at 2:30pm on Hitchcock Field. 

* The Mammoths took 11 shots (4 on goal); WPI took 7 shots (3 on goal).