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Michael Harten
Perry Laskaris '07
Michael Harten
1
Rensselaer RENSSELA (16-3-4)
3
Winner Amherst AMHERST (18-1-2)
Rensselaer RENSSELA
(16-3-4)
1
Final
3
Amherst AMHERST
(18-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rensselaer RENSSELA 0 1 1
Amherst AMHERST 3 0 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Perry Laskaris, Athletics Communications Specialist

Men's Soccer Concludes Season in NCAA Q'final

No. 1 Amherst scores three first half goals before venue change; holds on for 3-1 victory

AMHERST, Mass. – Sophomore German Giammattei recorded a goal and an assist to the No. 1/4 Amherst College men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over No. 12/14 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday at Hitchcock Field and Gooding Field. With the win, the Mammoths improve to 18-1-2 overall and advance to the Final Four, while the Engineers conclude their historic season at 16-3-4.

A rain-soaked Hitchcock Field was the scene for the opening 45 minutes of play and the homestanding Mammoths took advantage, as Giammattei (Pinecrest, FL/Ransom Everglades School) headed home the first goal of the contest in just the seventh minute. A cross from the left by Ada Okorogheye found Giammattei at the top of the six and he smashed it past RPI sophomore goalkeeper Luke
Brezak (Camano Island, WA/The Overlake School) for his team-leading 23rd goal of the season.

Senior Dane Lind (San Juan Capistrano, CA/St. Margaret's School) doubled the lead in the 24th minute, when he poked a shot home from close range after it appeared that Brezak had gotten his hand on it. The tally was Lind's 11th of the year.

Just four minutes later, junior Sebastian Derby (San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico/IMG Academy) finished on the break to make it 3-0 to the hosts. Giammattei earned the assist by delivering the final pass on the play. Brezak got his left hand to the attempt, but couldn't keep it from creeping inside his left post.

At halftime, officials ruled that the field had become unplayable and the match was moved to nearby Gooding Field for the second 45 minutes.

The Engineers came out flying in the second half and generated the first two shots of the frame. Senior Austin Betterly (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) had his attempt stopped by Amherst sophomore goalkeeper Bernie White (Austin, TX/St. Stephen's Episcopal) in the 50th minute, before junior Trevor Bisson (Baton Rouge, LA/Episcopal) saw his shot sail over the bar in the 58th.

RPI struck for its only goal of the game in the 71st minute, off a corner kick by junior Michael Harten (Merrick, NY/Sanford H.Calhoun). His delivery found the head of freshman Arik Duncan (Decatur, GA/Woodward Academy), but his attempt was blocked. The ball then fell to Betterly, who laced home his second tally in as many days and fifth of the season, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Senior captain Matt LaBranche (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) came on in the 73rd minute and was quickly tested, as the Engineers sent Bisson forward in an attempt to come back. LaBranche made three saves in a matter a minute, keeping the game within striking distance.

A flurry of chance ensued at the offensive end for RPI, but Betterly and sophomore Paul Silva (Wayne, NJ/Seton Hall Prep.) had shots blocked, before freshman Josh Gaudiano (Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa) ripped a final attempt wide of the mark.

White (15-1-1) finished with five saves on the night, while Brezak (11-1-4) had 10 in suffering his first defeat of the season. LaBranche had three stops over the final 18 minute of the match.

Rensselaer finishes its season with school record totals in games played (23), wins (16), winning streak (10), unbeaten streak (15), goals (47) and goals in an NCAA Tournament game (4). The program had never made it past the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament until this season, when the Engineers reached the Elite 8.
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