AMHERST, Mass. — The Amherst College men's soccer team encountered its fourth tie of the season on Sunday afternoon versus the #22 Bowdoin College Polar Bears on Hitchcock Field. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
The game began without a host of attacking opportunities for either side. The Mammoths earned a couple of corners within the first five minutes but the only shot of the first twenty minutes was an effort from junior Ada Okorogheye which was wide of the post. Junior Shawn Rapal's header was the next attempt of the game but that also fell wide of the goal. Okorogheye, and seniors Andrew Barkidjija and Nico Kenary whipped in crosses from five corner kicks throughout the half, but neither team took any more shots after Amherst's initial two wide attempts.

* Both teams worked industriously in the middle of the field and each side organized their defensive lines to effectively extinguish any danger of a goal during the opposing team's attempts to advance forward. Aggressive tackling often led to fouls and the referee blew the whistle for 16 fouls (9 in Bowdoin's favor, 7 to Amherst) throughout the first period.

* The second half began with more entertainment and, within three minutes, Amherst had already doubled the total shot count. During the first six minutes after the restart, sophomore Fynn Hayton-Ruffner and Rapal forced Bowdoin's goalkeeper, Michael Webber, to make his first three saves of the game. Then with just under two minutes left until full-time, Amherst had one of the best chances of the game to open the scoring. The ball fell to Amherst's top-scorer Hayton-Ruffner in the penalty box who calmly chipped a cross into a crowd of players. The ball arrived at the feet of sophomore Ben Clark-Eden who would have scored had Webber not stopped the shot with his left thigh. A rebound attempt then missed wide of the goal. In the final minute, a set-piece from the right side found Sophomore Laurens ten Cate, but his header was also saved by Webber.. The home side took 9 shots (4 on goal); Bowdoin had one singular effort which forced Amherst's goalkeeper, senior Bernie White, to make a save. Today marked White's fourth straight shutout.

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst now holds a 7-1-4 overall record (2-1-4 in NESCAC) for the season. 

* Up next: Amherst will continue NESCAC competition next Saturday against the #22 Connecticut College at 3:30pm on Hitchcock Field. 

* The Mammoths had 6 corners; Bowdoin did not have any.