Around the Herd: Sept. 9 to Sept. 15 in Athletics

Field Hockey

This week, the No. 11-ranked field hockey team in the country played a two-game homestand, beating Worcester Polytechnic Institute 3-2 on Wednesday, and losing to Williams 2-0 on Saturday.

On Wednesday night, the Mammoths found early offensive opportunities against the WPI. The Goat’s goaltender blocked a shot from Molly Donegan ’26, and an attempt from Maya Harrington ’27 hit the post. In the second quarter, both teams traded possession until a goal by WPI broke the stalemate in the period’s last seconds. Amherst responded with offensive chances in the third frame, garnering three penalty corners, but none of the opportunities led to shots. With less than three minutes in the fourth quarter, Genevieve Caruso ’27 drove into the circle and hit the ball towards the goal. Caruso’s shot was deflected, but found the stick of Emma Zhang ’29, who buried the ball into the net. This marked Zhang’s first collegiate goal and sent the game into overtime. Three minutes into the extra period, Donegan evaded two Goats defenders to maintain possession before passing the ball towards an open Caroline Busler ’28. She quickly knocked the ball past the goalkeeper to secure the Mammoths’ 2-1 victory.

Men’s Soccer

In their first home match of the season, the men’s soccer team bested Albertus Magnus College 3-1 on Wednesday and then tied 0-0 with Williams three days later, moving their overall record to 2-0-2.

The Mammoths played a dominant game against the Falcons on Wednesday. Amherst finally recorded its first tally in the 28th minute, when Obed Opoku ’28 passed to Leo Wilensky ’29, who attempted a header on goal. The shot was blocked by Albertus Magnus’ goaltender, but Wilensky collected his own rebound and tapped the ball into the back of the net to give the Mammoths the lead. Later in the second half, Opoku dribbled around the Falcons’ defensive pressure and fired the ball into the goal, doubling Amherst’s lead. Only seconds later, Opoku fired a long pass to Kavi Krishnan ’28, who then crossed the ball to Wilensky. The open forward then buried his second of the night to bring the score to 3-0. Albert Magnus responded quickly a minute later, scoring a goal to make the final score 3-1 in favor of the Mammoths. Amherst recorded 28 shots while keeping Albertus Magnus to three over the course of their victorious game. 

Women’s Soccer

During their alumni game against NESCAC foe Williams on Saturday, the No. 4 women’s soccer team in the country dropped its first contest of the season. Both teams started out strong — Brooke Ingemi ’26 registered two shots early, forcing the Williams keeper to make a save. After Ingemi’s chances, the Ephs began their offensive onslaught. They started banging shots towards Amherst’s goal, but Lulu Fickes ’26 came up with two back-to-back stops to keep the score 0-0. However, in the 23rd minute of play, a cross into the box miraculously found the foot of an Eph player, who was able to send it past the Amherst backline for a 1-0 lead. 

With much of the game left to play, both teams continued their efforts. Emma Darling ’29 unloaded two shots on goal, but both times, Margaret Huelin, the Williams keeper, made the stop. The Mammoths set up multiple skillful corner kick chances, but again were unable to put the ball in the back of the net. In the loss, the Mammoths were outshot 17-15. Fickes recorded five critical saves. Caroline Coletti ’28 also put a shot on target and sent strong corner kicks into the box to help give the Mammoths’ scoring opportunities. Despite the loss, the 3-1 team looks forward to a midweek contest against Emerson College, before they travel to their next NESCAC opponent, Middlebury, on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Football

The football team opened its 2025 campaign with a nail-biter loss at Bates on Saturday. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, before the Bobcats scored a touchdown and made the extra point with six seconds remaining in the half, taking a 7-0 lead. In the third quarter, quarterback Marek Hill ’28 found receivers Sam Gerber ’26 and Keith Delaney ’26 to help move the chains, before hitting Delaney from 32 yards out of the end zone for the touchdown. A failed extra point attempt kept the Mammoths trailing 7-6, but they were just getting started. With nine minutes left in the third, kicker Hudson Fulcher-Melendy ’28 hit the ball on target, completing a towering 34-yard field goal to give the Mammoths a 9-7 lead. The following play, a stellar hit from Luke Harmon ’26 and Carson Skotak ’27 forced a fumble, and the Mammoths recovered at the Amherst 41-yard line. From there, Demetrius Smith ’27 contributed key rushing yardage, while a Carter Jung ’26 reception helped the Mammoths set up on the one-yard line. Finishing it off, Hill ran the ball in for a score, giving the Mammoths a 16-7 lead. 

The Bobcats couldn’t catch a break down the stretch — their following possession again resulted in a forced fumble knocked loose by Matt Callahan ’28 and recovered by Skotak. Hill sent a 33-yard dime downfield, which Jung corralled in the endzone for the largest lead of the game: 23-7 in Amherst’s favor. 

Soon, though, the momentum began to change, as Amherst struggled to hold onto the ball. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Bates forced a fumble, leading to a touchdown. Following this, the Bobcats picked off another pass, leading to another Bates scoring opportunity and a field goal. With under 2:30 left to play, Bates quarterback Jack Perry zipped it 35 yards to receiver Quinn Carver for the equalizer. 

The first overtime period saw little action, with both teams going scoreless. In the second overtime, despite a promising possession by the Mammoths, a handful of late sacks and penalties took Amherst out of field goal range, and allowed Bates to kick the game-winning field goal, winning the contest 26-23. The loss is only the team’s second to Bates since 2000.

In the loss, Skotak, Harmon, and Callahan led the defense in tackles with 17, 14, and 11, respectively. Harmon and Wyatt Morgan ’28 also recorded a sack each, helping to stifle the Bates offense. Jung and Delaney led the Mammoths in receiving yards, with each of them recording a touchdown, in addition to Hill. Smith had a team-high 57 yards rushing, while Hill was 18/29 on completions. While the outcome is not what the team hoped for, they look ahead to an exciting home opener versus Hamilton this weekend on Pratt Field.

Head of the Herd: Leo Wilensky ’29

The men’s soccer team continued its undefeated streak, beating Albertus Magnus College and tying Williams 0-0. Their success is certainly a testament to their depth and teamwork, in addition to many new faces on the scene. One of these faces — forward, Leo Wilensky ’29,  has been integral to the team’s wins this past week. Wilensky, a Michigan native, contributed two goals in the victory and earned his second career start against Williams. The first-year leads the team in goals and points with three and six, respectively. Just four games into the season, it is clear that his impact is immediate, and for his performance, he earns this week’s Head of the Herd honors.