Overtime was almost a formality in Sunday’s NCAA Division 3 Men’s Soccer National Championship game.
For the first time since October however, Amherst College was unable to find the winning formula. The Mammoths saw their stellar season come to a disappointing end in the national title game, as St. Olaf College’s Casey McCloskey tallied the game-winning goal in the first OT to help the Lions secure a 2-1 victory at Kerr Stadium on the campus of Roanoke College in Salem, Va.
Amherst finished its season 17-3-4, settling for the program’s third national runner-up finish in the past four season (2019, 2021, 2023). The Mammoths were looking for their second-ever national title after winning in 2015.
It was the first-ever national title for St. Olaf, as the Northfield, Minn. school finished its campaign 20-3-3. The loss ended a 13-game unbeaten streak for NESCAC champion Amherst.
“I am just so proud of these guys and this team and this community and all the support that we constantly get,” Amherst head coach Justin Serpone said through Amherst Athletics. “We’re disappointed, but I think we have pretty good perspective about what Amherst soccer means, the fact that our friendships will last forever.”
Amherst senior midfielder Wyatt McCarthy, junior forward Fynn Hayton-Ruffner, junior defender Simon Kalinauskas and junior midfielder Niall Murphy were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Amherst took a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute. Luka Ohadike settled a ball at his feet, spun to his right and raced into the St. Olaf penalty area where he ripped a shot into the back of the net.
St. Olaf tied the game with 28:42 remaining, as Hakeem Morgan finished a pass from McCloskey to pull the Lions level.
It stayed that way into overtime, where St. Olaf struck early and survived two 10-minute overtime periods to secure the title.
The Mammoths finished the game with a 20-13 advantage in shots and a 10-4 edge in corner kicks. Amherst goalie Max Landa made three saves in net.
Mount Holyoke 54, MCLA 53 – Sophomore guard Libby Harris hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining, and the Lyons made a defensive stop to defeat MLCA on Saturday in Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium in South Hadley.
It was the first win of the season for Mount Holyoke, which improved to 1-7 overall. The Lyons’ last win came on Jan. 11 against Bard.
Mount Holyoke outscored the Trailblazers (1-6) 22-13 in the third quarter, turning a halftime deficit into a 43-36 advantage entering the fourth.
Taryn White finished with a career-high 17 points in the win, while Harris finished with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, and four assists. Emma Goff filled up the statsheet with eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Amherst 70, Wesleyan 55 – A career-high 21 points from sophomore Lauren Mendell guided the Mammoths past Little 3 rival Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon.
The Mammoths improved to 6-0 on the season. They are off until Friday when they play host to SUNY-Poly. Tip-off time is 5 p.m.
Reeya Patel (18 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists) and Kori Barach (15 points, 10 rebounds) both finished with double-doubles in the win for Amherst.
Amherst 1, Middlebury 1 – The second-ranked Mammoths skated to a 1-1 tie with conference rival Middlebury at Orr Rink on Saturday.
With the tie, the Mammoths moved to 5-0-1. Amherst will face the Manhattanville College on Friday at 7 p.m. for its Pink in the Rink Game back at Orr Rink.
Cara Mancini netted her first career goal for Amherst in the second period. Goalie Natalie Stott made a whopping 37 saves in net, including 20 between the third period and OT.