Box Score

Connecticut Col. CCO (14-3-8, 3-2-5)

Amherst AMH (16-2-5, 7-2-1)

Connecticut Col. CCO

(14-3-8, 3-2-5)

Final

Dec. 07, 2024

Amherst AMH

(16-2-5, 7-2-1)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	OT 1	OT 2	OT 3	F
Connecticut Col. CCO	0	0	0	0	0	0
Amherst AMH	0	0	0	0	0	0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | 12/7/2024 6:04:00 PM

#8 Amherst becomes National Champions after nail-biting penalty shootout versus Conn

LAS VEGAS, NV — On Saturday afternoon, the #8 Amherst College men's soccer team played its fourth final in five seasons of the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament. On the Peter Johann Memorial Field, the Mammoths faced the Connecticut College Camels in a rematch of the 2021 Final. After the score remained 0-0 after 90 minutes and then double overtime, the Mammoths prevailed in the penalty shootout to win the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.

It is the program's second national title, and the first since 2015.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

The first half began without too many clear cut chances. Both goalkeepers, senior Max Landa for Amherst and Peter Silvester of Conn, were involved with catches from crosses and stray balls, but the first fifteen minutes did not see a shot on goal from either side.
The first attempt on goal came from a linkup between first-years Jacob Dinzeo and Michael Cherico. From the left, Dinzeo's whipped cross was met by the 6'5 Californian Cherico but his header was directed just wide of the post.
The closest to an opening goal came from a long-range free kick from the right-hand side. Dinzeo lumped a ball into the penalty box. Again, Cherico was the first to meet it. This time, instead of aiming towards goal, he knocked it down to Fynn Hayton-Ruffner, who was behind the line of defense and coolly took a touch before and buried a shot past the goalkeeper. To the Mammoths' disappointment, the assistant referee disallowed the goal with Hayton-Ruffner being marginally offside. This decision was confirmed with the video referee briefly.
The Camels replied with a chance for themselves. A shot along the ground across goal called Landa into action to make a crucial save. Shortly after, Conn had another opportunity when a cross along the box wasn't met with a touch.
The first ten minutes of the second half brought several chances for the Mammoths. As a constant aerial threat, Cherico's header from short range was directed just too high for goal and Niall Murphy's effort from outside of the box sailed wide. The next 25 minutes was slightly cagier, with few clear-cut chances but an omnipresent threat of scoring from both teams. The Mammoths had an aerial threat throughout, and senior Simon Kalinauskas came close to converting a Dinzeo corner kick at the far post, if Peter Silvester didn't get a crucial glove to palm the cross past Kalinauskas' head.
With under seven minutes of the 90 remaining, sophomore Mohammed Nuhu exploited an opening. Taking a big touch forward and rapidly running forwards with the ball Nuhu found himself in the box with the ball with just a defender and the goalkeeper to beat. Nuhu struck a shot aimed at the near top corner with his left foot but Silvester stepped up to the occasion and made the save. Nuhu fired again in the 88th minute that forced another Silvester save. Again, Nuhu tested the goalkeeper for a third consecutive time with a long shot that Silvester tipped over the bar. In the last minute, the Mammoths continued piling on the pressure with a corner that Cherico's header couldn't keep under the crossbar. Despite Amherst's momentum, the score ended 0-0 and the game was forced to Golden Goal Overtime.
Both teams had attacking lineups as they sought the winning goal. Amherst had yet another cross caught by Silvester between the sticks. Marco Perugini then launched a shot into the side netting after goalkeeper Landa forced him to shoot from a tight angle. The Mammoths then followed with three attacking moves, creating shots but failing to hit the target. The game was stretched to the second half of overtime. The score remained 0-0 and headed to penalties.
In the shootout, Landa saved the first with a diving save before Nuhu put Amherst 1-0 in penalties. Silvester then saved the next Amherst penalty to level the scoring. After five kicks from each side, it was level at 3-3. After a third Landa stop, Simon Kalinauskas, the seventh shooter for Amherst, stepped up with unshakable composure and delivered the decisive strike to secure Amherst's victory and crown them national champions.
Named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team were Ben Clark-Eden, Luka Ohadike and Max Landa. Fynn Hayton-Ruffner was named the Outstanding Offensive Player of the Tournament.