AMHERST — Following its first loss of the season, the Amherst College men’s soccer team returned to Hitchcock Field to shut out NESCAC rival Bates, 4-0, on Sunday.

The defending national champions entered the weekend ranked fourth. Tufts dealt Amherst its first loss, 3-0, on Saturday.

Amherst coach Justin Serpone was frustrated with the loss, but satisfied with how the team rebounded.

“Obviously I was disappointed with (Saturday’s) result and (Sunday) was a good result, but we still have a long way to go,” Serpone said. “Number one thing today was to get a shutout, and we got it. That’s the expectation every game, to come out here and not give up goals.”

The team pressured the Bobcats defensively to earn its fourth shutout of the season. Prior to Saturday, Amherst had not allowed three goals in a game since October 2014 against Trinity, a 4-3 win. Amherst had not lost by three goals since September 2009, when it fell 4-1 against Connecticut College.

On Sunday, Amherst’s balanced offence created many opportunities as four players scored. Senior captain Chris Martin scored in the 26th minute of the first half to put Amherst on the board. It was Martin’s third goal of the season.

Four minutes later, senior midfielder Bryce Ciambella shot the ball to the corner of the net past Bates goalie Robbie Montanaro with an assist by senior defender Rohan Sood.

Junior midfielder Sam Malnik scored his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute of play, and the team’s leading scorer Weller Hlinomaz scored his fifth goal of the season six minutes later to make the score 4-0.

The Bobcats had several chances to score in the second half, but all were saved by Amherst goalie Lee Owen (four saves). In the 75th minute Bates forward Peabo Knoth shot one on goal but it was caught and saved by Owen. Amherst outshot Bates 12-10 and 10-4 in shots on goal.

Amherst freshman goalie Will Dunne started for the first time in his collegiate career. The rookie played the entire first half before being replaced by Owen.

“It was really great, definitely a great atmosphere, I wouldn’t want to have my college start anywhere else,” Dunne said.

Serpone wanted to give Dunne a chance.

“I thought Will did a great job,” he said. “He’s a freshman so you want to ease him into things but he’s got a bright future.”

Dunne had help as the team held Bates to only two shots in the first half.

“My best games are when I don’t have to touch the ball,” Dunne said. “The back four and the whole team in general is really solid. We really emphasize good team defending, and I think we did a good job at that tonight.”

Amherst (7-1-1, 3-1-1 NESCAC) will face the New England (5-5-0) on Wednesday in Henniker, New Hampshire, at 8 p.m.

Amherst will host NESCAC rival Hamilton at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on Hitchcock Field.

Jacqui Collins is a journalism student at UMass and can be reached at jacquicollins913@gmail.com.