Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS -- Long-time rivals Williams (3-0-5, 2-0-3 NESCAC) and Amherst (5-1-3, 1-1-3 NESCAC) drew 0-0 today on Cole Field, but there was no shortage of action.
37 fouls (23 against Amherst, 14 against the Ephs), 5 yellow cards, and a sending off—it was a high-intensity affair.
Sophomore Mammoth defender Laurens Ten Cate received his second yellow card of the game and was sent off.
In terms of chances, it was pretty back and forth. Williams always looked dangerous in the set pieces stemming from the Mammoths' many fouls; Felipe Gutierrez ('25) had a threatening shot on goal in the 47', and a dangerous cross in the 55', following the second yellow, narrowly went out for a goal kick after none of the Ephs could get a foot on it.
For Amherst, Sophomore Micah Valadez-Bush came closest to scoring with an athletic volleyed attempt–hit with the outside of his right heel, as the ball was traveling leftwards above him–that went just wide, after a header across the six-yard box left him alone at the far post.
It was the only time goalkeeper Ben Diffley ('24) was caught out, and the NESCAC Player of the Week last week howed exactly how he earned that honor, keeping another clean sheet, denying Amherst a last-gasp winner when he made a dramatic, diving effort to save the 6'8' Junior Shawn Rapal's headed effort with four seconds left on the clock.
"It's always a great game when Amherst comes to town," said Eph head coach Steffen Siebert, in his post-match interview, "I thought Amherst played really well and we played really well so, I think it was a really good game for everyone to watch, and another foot forward in the right direction."
On a less exciting, more concerning note, Senior forward Will Fellito, another recent NESCAC Player of the Week, went down with an injury in the 40th minute, after an aerial collision that also earned him a yellow card. He had to be helped off the field.
The still-undefeated Ephs move on to Keene State, on Tuesday, where they will look to build on a highly promising start to the season.
