The men’s soccer team’s NCAA playoff run commenced with an exhilarating bang this weekend when they defeated Western New England College. The second round match took place under the lights this past Saturday on a clear but chilly evening. Although the weather was cold, the match burned with intensity as postseason emotions came to a head. Amherst faced a confident WNEC squad. Having advanced to the second round over opponent Johnson & Wales University (R.I.), the Golden Bears came prepared with the grit and determination of an NCAA Tournament-caliber squad. The game came to define, for many players on the Amherst team, what it means to play with heart. In the words of senior tri-captain Ryan O’Donnell, “the guys showed a lot of resiliency and grit by being hungrier than WNEC to create and bury those 50/50 chances that are the difference between winning and losing.” The win essentially came down to who wanted it more.

The match started with intensity from both sides. Although Amherst dominated play, the scoring chances, at least early on, belonged solely to WNEC. In one such chance Amherst goalkeeper Jeff Grover ’09 was nearly beaten by a lobbed ball. As it sailed through the air it looked as though it might drop right under the cross bar, but, luckily, it inched just over and out of bounds. Fifteen minutes into the match, the Golden Bears were the first team to convert when they put home a rebound off of a corner kick to take a 1-0 lead. Amherst responded with a few efforts of their own as juniors Nick Lynch and Jake Duker connected for some near misses, but just couldn’t seem to find the equalizer. As passions flared, the game became physical and both sides received yellow cards before the end of the half. WNEC was able to create a few more chances, but was unable to widen the margin. The half ended with the Jeff’s down 1-0, despite holding a 10-5 edge in shots.

The Jeffs knew that they needed to score the next goal if they were to remain competitive, and that another WNEC tally could put the game out of reach. With the beginning of the second half, the men took the field with a fierce thirst for the back of the net. It didn’t take long for them to convert. The goal was scored as senior Kevin Dolan connected with Ryan O’Donnell on an offensive attack. O’Donnell dribbled for some space and eventually sent a lofted pass to Jake Duker ’09, who was able to sneak the ball by the outstretched WNEC keeper. The goal marked Duker’s offensive return from an injury that kept him sidelined for the past several weeks, and was certainly instrumental in the victory. Following the Amherst equalizer, play became increasingly gritty with neither team able to possess the ball for very long under its opponent’s high-pressure defenses.

The goal reinvigorated the Jeffs and they appeared close to scoring another until WNEC dashed their hopes when they put home a bouncing ball in the box for a 2-1 lead. Fifteen minutes remained on the clock, and the WNEC fans were convinced that victory was theirs. Their cheers came prematurely, however, as Duker was once again able to convert on a loose ball in the box. With the game now tied 2-2 and the minutes winding down, it looked like both teams were prepared to settle in for overtime. However, Nick Lynch would not hear of it. With a dazzling sequence of footwork, Lynch beat WNEC’s defenders and connected with tri-captain Taylor Downs ’08 for the winning goal with just 21 seconds left on the clock.

The goal defined Amherst’s performance in the match. Downs’ courageous body-hurling finish epitomized the team’s unflinching desire to win. When asked to comment, O’Donnell, who turned 22 on the day of the match, said, “It was the best birthday of my life. In a game fueled by emotion, it was truly the best soccer victory of my Amherst career. The game was like a movie. We only ended up leading for 21 seconds, but that’s NCAA soccer, survive and advance.”

The victory sends Amherst through to NCAA Sectional play. They will face York College this coming Saturday at one p.m. at Middlebury College. Should the Jeffs advance they will play a rematch against the winner of the Williams-Middlebury game on the following day, also at Middlebury.