NESCAC

[camosfan]

Scoffone scores a beauty to send the Camels ahead!

[BendIt007]

Now Camels 2 - Hamilton 2 ... after 21 minutes.

[camosfan]

Did Williams win? NCAA had the score for Williams for sometime.

[blooter442]

Did Williams win? NCAA had the score for Williams for sometime.

Cubbedu just bent home a free kick spotting Diffley, who was anticipating a cross, off his line. Pace on the shot but it was 35+ yards out. 1-0 Mammoths 64'.

[blooter442]

Okorogheye slips while shooting/crossing from 25 yards out, it loops in the top right over Diffley. 2-0.

[EnmoreCat]

Amherst 2 Williams 1

Not for the first time, PN was 100 % right:

"or that the Mammoths are gonna get 3 past Mr. Diffley."

It was my first proper look at Williams and given some jetlag after making it back Down Under, this result represented the second of what has been a pretty good morning (the Crystal Palace win was part one in case you need to know) and one I was able to watch whilst wide awake.

The game did get transferred from TBTTIHF to Gooding Field and I think right now and this will run counter to a popular narrative on these boards, it suits the Amherst style as they are keeping the ball, whilst at the same time, moving it quickly.  I felt Amherst dominated the first half, but equally, Williams defended resolutely and effectively.  Whilst Williams did have their moments, had the Mammoths gone in 1-0 at half-time, I am not sure there could have been too many complaints.  Amherst got the ball in the Williams box repeatedly, but were unable to get a decisive blow.

Second half started much like the first and 63 minutes in, the Amherst 10 scored what I understand in that part of the world, is described as a "banger" and which I suspect in these parts would get a similar description.  It was a free kick which I have only seen once, but it looked at that glance like the Williams keeper, might have not quite positioned himself properly and that little opening was all that was needed.  Unfortunate for him as his general handling and field kicking was pretty solid.  In the 76th minute came the icing on the cake, with one of the co-captains hitting one from distance, with the Williams keeper out of the picture.  To my purple tinted eyes, 2-0 felt pretty fair, but with Amherst content to sit deeper, the Ephs (not sure what an Eph is by the way) got what proved to be only a consolation with just over two minutes to go.  Whilst this correspondent would have been much happier with a clean sheet, the last two minutes were relatively stress free and that was that, but did of course mean that YankeeSoccerDad and Northmans' forecasts were just out, but we can forgive them for that.

Not sure if the commentator was wondering why no one was at TBTTIHF, but he/she didn't find their way to Gooding Field and with the camera work being done from the bleachers side, it did make for some audience participation that wasn't really filtered.  I recognized a few Mammoths' voices and was glad to hear the support.  I can't really confect much animosity towards Williams, despite knowing the nature of the rivalry, but know that everyone present today will feel quite different.  For the Mammoths, some redemption after the disappointing Babson result and hopefully the train is back on the track.  Conn is next, so things don't exactly get any easier and it's just a reminder of why NESCAC is the by far the most challenging conference.

Foul Count: Amherst 16 Williams 9

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Re: Amherst @ Williams

I don't think there is a lot to say. Amherst is a strong team and finds a way to score, especially against a suspect keeper.

Williams, playing at home in front of a good crowd on a beautiful day for soccer, managed to put 2 of 5 shots on goal. They scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute but a team entering the season ranked in the top 5 only managed 5 shots. They played a bit like a Mourinho team that is happy to cede possession and absorb pressure. Except, unlike Mourinho teams, it has no idea how to counter attack or press or even pass the ball in the attacking half. I had hoped for a more interesting game.

[Yankeesoccerdad]

Congrats to Trinity for getting the monkey off their back!  I have always been impressed with how hard they fought in every game I have seen notwithstanding their W-L record. Last year they nearly pulled off a tie against Bowdoin despite playing a man down after a double yellow/red. Bowdoin scored in the last two minutes to pull out the win, but Trinity had an impressive game.

So, EnmoreCat, I was two minutes away from being right?  I am not surprised it took a while to break Williams down but fully expected Amherst to come out angry and effective. I was surprised to see Diffley described by Maine Soccer Fan as suspect. He is a big guy with a long record of shutouts. You don't often see bangers in the NESCAC—most goals come from scrums in the box, where size is a big advantage.

[PaulNewman]

Re: Amherst @ Williams

I don't think there is a lot to say. Amherst is a strong team and finds a way to score, especially against a suspect keeper.

Williams, playing at home in front of a good crowd on a beautiful day for soccer, managed to put 2 of 5 shots on goal. They scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute but a team entering the season ranked in the top 5 only managed 5 shots. They played a bit like a Mourinho team that is happy to cede possession and absorb pressure. Except, unlike Mourinho teams, it has no idea how to counter attack or press or even pass the ball in the attacking half. I had hoped for a more interesting game.

MSD, the lawn must look great because apparently you missed that the game was at Amherst.  Also might be a little unfair to speak of a "suspect keeper."  Didn't watch and perhaps he had a rough game by his standards but he did keep Amherst off the board for 63 minutes and did carry Williams, along with Boardman, through a NCAA gauntlet all the way to the national final.

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Indeed, it was at Amherst. The artificial turf threw me off and I had the commentators muted! A thousand apologies.

Much to my wife's chagrin, the lawn did not get mowed.

I'd encourage you to have a look at the goals and judge for yourself how soft they were

[PaulNewman]

Indeed, it was at Amherst. The artificial turf threw me off and I had the commentators muted! A thousand apologies.

Much to my wife's chagrin, the lawn did not get mowed.

I'd encourage you to have a look at the goals and judge for yourself how soft they were

I'm gonna assume that the goals he yielded were atrocious, but, like I suggested, everyone can have an off day.  I think he did have 7 or 8 saves.  I mean, maybe he sucks, but he was D3soccer.com national GK of the year.

Anyway, Cubbedu scoring is good news for Amherst.  Probably the Mammoths' most dynamic player and owner of one of the most important goals in Amherst history with a walk-off "banger" in OT in a national semi against Chicago.

[camosfan]

Cubbedu , does not look as good as previous years, not playing last year may have reduced his sharpness.

[PaulNewman]

Cubbedu , does not look as good as previous years, not playing last year may have reduced his sharpness.

Hmmmm.....2nd in points for a top 5 team in the country...got Amherst on the board after a scoreless deadlock today on a shot from 35 yards out.

Not playing last year may not have effected him as much as recovering from an ACL or whatever it was....as we know, most players coming off a devastating season-ending injury can take two full years to be 100%...not so much from rust but from gradually increased confidence about trusting the rehabbed knee.

[EnmoreCat]

So, some responses:

Yankee Soccer Dad: two minutes can be a long time in D3 Soccer!

Maine Soccer Fan: I think for the first goal, not many players in this division could firstly, identify the opportunity and secondly, successfully execute.  I would suggest the Amherst 10 should be given real credit for doing so.  Ultimately, keeper positioning has the likelihood of being a factor in most goals and we do encourage players to try and shoot where the custodian isn't.

Camos Fan: Having seen him close up, I think the Amherst 10's 2023 form has been pretty good and he is exciting to watch on the ball.  With apologies to those in here with a finance background as I am about to deliberately mangle something, but I think his "Sharp" ratio is pretty impressive and if there is still a possible gap to previous form, then he is beginning to fill that and that bodes well for what comes next.

[Maine Soccer Fan]

That was definitely a nicely struck ball but you could've driven a truck through the space the keeper vacated. Stevie Wonder would've noticed that gap.

I've seen middle schoolers lob keepers like that...but the keeper in question is usually 5' 5" and pre-pubescent.