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NCAA SEMI MIDD 12524
2
Winner Amherst AC (15-2-4, 7-2-1)
1
Middlebury MIDD (17-2-4, 7-0-3)
Winner
Amherst AC
(15-2-4, 7-2-1)
2
Final
1
Middlebury MIDD
(17-2-4, 7-0-3)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Amherst AC 0 2 2
Middlebury MIDD 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

#8 Amherst advances to NCAA Final for fourth time in five years, edging #3 Middlebury 2-1 in Final Four in Las Vegas

Photos by Ian Maule

LAS VEGAS, NV — The #8 Amherst College men's soccer team traveled to Nevada for their national semifinal match of the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament on Thursday evening. Their opponents were NESCAC rivals, the #3 Middlebury College Panthers. The Mammoths prevailed with a 2-1 win over the Panthers in 90 minutes, thanks to goals from senior Simon Kalinauskas and sophomore Mohammed Nuhu via a penalty kick. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
  • The first half of the match unfolded unsurprisingly as an intense and physical contest. Amherst came out strong, dominating early possession but failing to capitalize on their chances. The Mammoths unleashed a flurry of attempts, taking four shots within the opening ten minutes. Middlebury's response came in the 19th minute with Keagan Harder's first effort. By halftime, Amherst had outshot Middlebury six to two, with the final chance of the half being senior Wyatt McCarthy's attempt that veered left. In a physical exchange, fouls from both teams disrupted the rhythm of play regularly. 
  • The breakthrough came early in the second half when Amherst senior Simon Kalinauskas, towering at 6'6, delivered a clean header from first-year Jacob Dinzeo's well-placed cross from a corner kick. The ball soared over a crowded penalty area, finding Kalinauskas unmarked and behind a sea of players to nod it into the net. The senior from Sydney, Australia, marked his second goal of the season to put the Mammoths ahead. 
  • Amherst nearly doubled their lead minutes later when 6'5 first-year Michael Cherico's header grazed the crossbar. The move started from fantastic unselfish play from sophomore Mohammed Nuhu. Dinzeo was involved again in this move, creating the opportunity with another accurate cross from the wing. 
  • Against the run of play, Middlebury struck back less than five minutes later. Tyler Payne capitalized on a ricocheted clearance, volleying the ball into the bottom left corner with precision, leveling the score at 1-1. The goal occurred after Shane Farrell's shot from distance was blocked and the ball fell to Payne for his 15th career goal. 
  • The Panthers pressed on, creating opportunities, including a Colin Dungan shot cleared by Amherst's Ben Clark-Eden. In the 66th minute, however, Amherst took the lead again. The referee awarded Amherst a penalty, after a video review, for a late challenge on Niall Murphy. Nuhu coolly converted, accurately placing the ball just out of Joey Watermann's reach despite the keeper diving to the correct side.
  • Shortly after, Middlebury's hopes for a penalty of their own were denied, again following a lengthy video review. During the final 20 minutes, the Panthers dominated possession and pressed for an equalizer. However, Amherst's disciplined defense and strategic game management kept Middlebury at bay and secured the Mammoths' place in the final.
KEY STATS:
  • Amherst had 13 shots (3 on goal); Middlebury had 10 (1 on goal).
  • Amherst committed 15 fouls; Middlebury made 12. 
UP NEXT:
  • Amherst now holds a 15-2-4 overall record (8-2-2 versus NESCAC opposition).
  • Up next: Amherst's win qualifies them for the final of the NCAA Tournament. The Mammoths are one game away from becoming National Champions. On Saturday at 3pm ET, they will play the winner of the #21 Washington & Lee Generals and the Connecticut College Camels. Those two teams play later today in the second Final Four game.
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