LEWISTON, ME. – A goal from sophomore Riley Priddy after just 1:53 secured win for No. 25 Amherst College men's soccer on Saturday, Sept. 28. Traveling to Bates to face the Bobcats at the newly-dedicated Russell Street Athletic Complex, the Mammoths fought to a 1-0 win in a tight game.

With the victory, the Mammoths improve to 4-1-2 this season, while Bates dropped to 5-2-1 on the year. Amherst will look to start a win-streak with the second half of their NESCAC back-to-back coming in just 24 hours, taking on Colby on Sunday, Sept. 29. Their match against the Mules will begin at 1:30 pm.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* The Mammoths put Bates on their back foot early, and that early pressure paid dividends almost immediately. A cross by Fynn Hayton-Ruffner was cleared out by the Bobcats' defense and fell perfectly to the feet of Riley Priddy. The sophomore collected the loose ball at the top of the box and rifled a shot to the top left corner for the 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest.
 
* The Bobcats' best chances of the half came in the final 15 minutes. The first was a three-on-two against the Mammoths' center backs, but they, and goalkeeper Trey Sheppard, were up to the task –Sheppard easily dove to his right to end the threat. Their second opportunity came on a quick counter-attacking move, but Bates' cross bounced through the 18-yard box and out of bounds.

* With the Mammoths up 1-0 at the start of the second half, they did not take their foot off the gas and kept the ball in their attacking third for most of the early-going. However, despite multiple shots by Mohammed Nuhu and Oped Opoku, Amherst could not find the back of the net.
 
* The game opened up from there, with both teams having scoring chances. Bates almost equalized with 15 minutes to but the Bobcats' forward flicked his header over the crossbar.
 
* Amherst's best chance in the games final 15 minutes came with 9:58 to go. Wyatt McCarthy corralled a bouncing ball in his own 18-yard box and made a great lead pass that hit the speedster Nuhu in-stride. Nuhu outrun the Bates defender to the pass, but pushed his shot just wide on the ensuing one-versus-one chance.
 
* The Mammoths saw the rest of the game out with lockdown defense, and took home a 1-0 win.
 
 
BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst led 14-7 in shots taken, recording 5 on goal, as well as 8-1 on corner kicks.
 
* Sheppard made three saves in goal for the Mammoths.