BOX SCORE

AMHERST, Mass. - The third-ranked Amherst College men's soccer team received a pair of second-half goals from rookie Spencer Noon en route to a 2-0 victory over Bowdoin on Saturday in the season premiere for both squads.

During the first half of play, Amherst's best scoring chances came from junior forward Chris Linsmayer and sophomore midfielder Henry Rouse. In the 13th minute, Linsmayer hit a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box, and after taking a deflection the ball hit the near post before caroming out of bounds. In the 35th minute, a loose ball slid back to Rouse for a one-time blast that sailed just wide of the left upper corner.

Bowdoin's best chance of the opening frame came off a free kick from 25 yards out, just to the right side of the goal. Bowdoin's Nick Powell bent a ball over the Amherst wall, and forced a diving save by Lord Jeff goaltender Lennard Kovacs to keep the game scoreless. Neither team was able to break the deadlock, as the two sides broke for halftime at 0-0.

Amherst broke the scoreless tie with in the 67th minute, with first-year Spencer Noon scoring his first collegiate goal. Rouse picked up the assist on the score, passing the ball to Noon who touched it behind the Bowdoin back line, before ripping a hard shot into the left side netting.

With just over seven minutes remaining, Noon struck again, this time on a rebound. Linsmayer beat the last Bowdoin defender and took a shot that forced Hicks into a diving save. Hicks was unable to hold onto the shot, and Noon pounced on the looks ball for his second score of the game.

Bowdoin pressured hard down the stretch, but was unable to cut into Amherst's lead, as the final whistle blew on a 2-0 result. Kovacs finished the game with a pair of saves, while Hicks made five stops in the loss.