Hamilton College travels to Amherst College and will take on the nationally ranked No. 1 Lord Jeffs in a 2013 NESCAC Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinal at Amherst's Hitchcock Field on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 12:30 p.m.
NESCAC Preview
Hamilton (5-6-3 overall) finished in eighth place in the conference standings with a 3-4-3 record and is the eighth seed for the championship. The Continentals clinched their first NESCAC postseason bid since Hamilton joined the conference for soccer in 2011, thanks to a 2-1 win at Williams College coupled with Amherst's victory against Trinity College on Wednesday. The Continentals' triumph against Williams was just the team's second in 37 all-time meetings. Leo Nizzi '14 needs one assist to tie the program's career record of 17 owned by Ray Terepka '75.
The Jeffs (12-0-2) finished first in the conference standings with an 8-0-2 record and is the top seed for the championship. Amherst rides a 34-game unbeaten streak that dates back to the end of 2011 into this weekend. One of the Jeffs' five ties during the run was back on Oct. 5 against Hamilton. Amherst has won three of the last five NESCAC championships, including 2011 and 2012. The Jeffs have appeared in all 13 previous conference postseason tournaments.
Please find a capsule look at both teams below.
No. 1 seed AMHERST COLLEGE
Overall record: 12-0-2
NESCAC record (finish): 8-0-2 (1st place)
NCAA regional ranking: No. 1 in New England
NSCAA national ranking: No. 1
Head coach: Justin Serpone, 7th year at Amherst, 100-14-16
NESCAC championship appearances: 14th
NESCAC championship titles: Three (2008, 2011, 2012)
NESCAC championship record: 16-9-2
Last win vs. Hamilton: Sept. 22, 2012 – 5-1 (home)
Record at home: 4-0-1
Goals scored: 32
Goals allowed: 6
Leading goal scorers: Christopher Martin (5), Greg Singer (5), Bubba Van Wie (5)
Assist leaders: Martin (4), Nico Pascual-Leone (3), Van Wie (3)
Starting goalie: Thomas Bull (0.42 gaa, .824 save pct., 12-0-2 record, 7 shutouts)
No. 8 seed HAMILTON COLLEGE
Overall record: 5-6-3
NESCAC record (finish): 3-4-3 (8th place)
Head coach: Perry Nizzi, 16th year at Hamilton, 138-77-26
NESCAC championship appearances: First
NESCAC championship record: 0-0-0
Last win vs. Amherst: Never (0-2-1 all-time)
Road record: 1-5-1
Goals scored: 14
Goals allowed: 16
Leading goal scorers: Dan Kraynak ’15 (5), Trevor Bobola ’15 (3)
Assist leaders: Griffin Abbott ’15 (4), Leo Nizzi ’14 (3)
Starting goalie: Fred Porges ‘14 (1.03 gaa, .792 save pct., 3-6-2 record, 2 shutouts)
