No. 21 Centre (20-3-1) vs. No. 1/4 Amherst (18-1-2)
Date: Friday, December 6
Site: Greensboro, N.C.
Stadium: UNCG Soccer Stadium 
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET 
Centre: Schedule | Roster | Stats | Match Notes
Amherst: Schedule | Roster | Stats 
 
On Tap 
- Centre men's soccer's magical season has culminated in a NCAA Final Four appearance, where the Colonels meet Amherst in the first semifinal match Friday evening.
 
How We Got Here
- Centre secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons by winning the Southern Athletic Association Tournament. The Colonels defeated Oglethorpe in the title match, 4-3 in overtime, to claim the league's automatic bid.
- Since, the Colonels have marched through the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament, earning wins against Kalamazoo (1-0), John Carroll (3-1), Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (4-2) and Montclair State (3-2, OT) to find itself in the national semifinals.
 
How They Got Here
- Amherst fell in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament semifinals to Middlebury, 1-0, but had a strong enough resume to merit an NCAA at-large bid.
- The Mammoths have since defeated Thomas (6-1), Ithaca (2-0), Rowan (2-0) and Rensselaer (3-1) in the rounds leading up to the semifinals.
 
NCAA Histories
- This is the seventh NCAA Tournament appearance for the Colonels, who, prior to 2019, had never advanced past the second round. Centre is now 6-5-1 all-time in the national tournament.
- The Mammoths are making their 19th appearance, sporting a 32-11-11 record in the NCAAs. Amherst claimed the Division III Championship in 2015, and have made four total trips to the "Final Four" (1997, 2008, 2015, 2019).
 
Wild Sectional Weekend
- Centre's first-ever national semifinal appearance hasn't come without drama, as both of the Colonels' victories last weekend ended up be nail-biters.
Centre 4, CMS 2
- The Colonels scored early in Saturday's "Sweet 16" meeting against CMS, courtesy Alexander Garuba's goal in the second minute. Will Newton added a goal later in the period, and Centre sat comfortably ahead, 2-0, as almost the entire second half progressed.
- Four total goals would be scored in the final three minutes, however, beginning with CMS's Adam Singer in the 88th minute.
-With the Stags pressing, Centre's Nathan Wilcox was able to quickly get behind the defense and create a one-on-one with keeper Eduardo De Anda, which favored the Colonel forward. He scored just nine seconds after Singer to promptly make it 3-1.
- The Stags wouldn't go quietly, as Singer again found himself in the right place and converted with just 90 seconds to play.
- CMS nearly had the match-tying goal not long after, as Justin Blachman's shot was tipped by Haydon Korfhage and rolled inches wide to set up a corner.
- The Colonels cleared the danger, and with De Anda forward for the corner, Wilcox was able to dribble down the field and slot home the insurance score on an open net.
Centre 3, Montclair State 2 (OT)
- The Colonels thoroughly out-shot the Red Hawks, but Montclair was still 50 seconds away from advancing to the semifinals.
- Centre led 1-0 after a first half goal from Ethan Noel, but two quick goals from Nixon Soglo in the second half had the Colonels trailing for the first time in the NCAA Tournament.
- With just 50 seconds remaining, Dylan Barth delivered the match-tying goal on a loose ball in front of the goal mouth.
- Five minutes into OT, Garuba teed up Newton on a pinpoint assist over the top of the back line, and the Centre junior slotted home the golden goal. 
 
In the Polls
- Centre checked in at No. 21 in the latest D3soccer.com Top 25, which was released the week prior to the NCAA Tournament.
- Amherst is No. 4 in the same poll, but was No. 1 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll (Nov. 5).
 
We're Going Streaking
- The Colonels have won 14 matches in a row dating back to Oct. 4, five of which have been clean sheets.
- Centre is out-scoring its opponents 46-14 during that stretch, and have trailed in only three of the 12 contests.
 
Garuba the G.O.A.T.
- By any measure, Alexander Garuba will leave the Centre men's soccer program as the most prolific attacker ever. He currently holds the career records for goals, points and game-winning goals, as well as the single-season mark for each statistic.
- All six of the above records are also new SAA benchmarks.
- The single-season marks he's set have all come this season, as his 23 goals, 52 total points and eight game-winners top Centre's and the SAA's charts.
- Garuba is currently tied for fifth across all NCAA divisions among active career goal leaders with 55.
 
Newton Rising
- Will Newton has put together a memorable run throughout the NCAA Tournament, despite what was, at times, a frustrating regular season for the junior out of Lexington, Ky.
- He scored twice in Centre's season-opening victory over Hanover, but managed only three more goals throughout the regular season while finishing second on the team in total shots.
- In the NCAA Tournament, however, he's made a difference on both ends of the pitch, and has amassed four goals and two assists for 10 total points.
- He scored the game-winners against John Carroll and Montclair State, and assisted on the game-winner against CMS.
 
Welcome to the League
- Due to an untimely injury to senior goalie Tate Johnson – who was a First Team All-SAA selection – sophomore Haydon Korfhage has been called to action in the NCAA Tournament.
- The opening round against Kalamazoo was Korfhage's second career collegiate start, and he's gone on prove equal to the task of leading the Centre defense.
- Perhaps his most notable effort came against CMS, when he totaled eight saves.  
 
Scouting the Mammoths (courtesy D3soccer.com)
- Led by head coach Justin Serpone, Amherst has been a New England and national mainstay for the last decade or so. Since his appointment in 2008, his teams have reached the Sweet 16 or better every season, including a national title in 2015 and a Final 4 appearance in 2008.
- Amherst is led by German Giammattei, whose impressive 23-goal mark to date is even more impressive given that 14 of them have come in the NESCAC, the winning conference in four out of the last five NCAA tournaments.
- Sophomore keeper Bernie White's 0.50 GAA and .873 save pct. were both second-best in the NESCAC — the former by just 0.01 — this season, as he put together a stellar campaign in net for the Mammoths.
 
Tufts vs. Calvin
- Friday's second match features reigning NCAA champion, Tufts, against reigning NCAA runners-up, Calvin.
- The Jumbos (18-2-2) are the NESCAC Tournament champions, and are making their fourth trip to the Final Four after winning the national title in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
- The Knights (23-1-1) claimed the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association crown in a penalty kick decision against Hope, and have not lost a match since August 31.
- This semifinal meeting is a rematch of both the 2016 and 2018 national championship matches.
 
Series Histories
- Friday will be the first ever meeting between Centre and Amherst.
- No matter the outcome, Centre would also be facing a new opponent in Saturday's NCAA Championship match.
 
Fan Info
- Tickets can be purchased here.
- Centre will be sponsoring a tailgate from 2:30-4:30 p.m. near the UNCG Soccer Stadium. More info can be found here.
- Fans that can't make the trip will be able to view the games here.
- Centre is also hosting a watch party at Cowan Friday evening during the regular dinner hours.

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