Early Scoring Run, Dominant Defense Deliver in 11-7 Win Over #12 Mules

Box Score WATERVILLE, ME – The No. 5 Amherst women's lacrosse team got back in the win column on Saturday, April 4. Facing their second straight nationally-ranked team, No. 12 Colby, the Mammoths looked to get back in the win column. After playing the game close early, Amherst pulled away, going on a 6-1 scoring run across the end of the first and beginning of the second quarters to break the game open and help earn a 11-7 win.

With the win, Amherst improves to 9-1 overall and 4-1 in the NESCAC while the Mules slip to 6-4 (2-4 NESCAC). Next up for the Mammoths is Conn. College, who comes to town for a midweek conference contest on Wednesday, April 8. The game against the Camels is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Gooding Field.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Finley sparked the Mammoths' offense early, scoring the team's first two goals of the game. Her first came on what has become one of her signature moves, catching the ball with her back to goal, spinning around her defender and finishing the play. The second followed less than two minutes later off a give-and-go with

Emily Petersen. Colby got one back midway through the period, but

Clara Sosa netted with 22 seconds to go off a

Kate Becker pass to make it 3-1 at the end of one.

• The teams continued to battle into the second quarter, with

Bridget Darcy netting a quick-stick goal from Becker on the first possession of the frame. The Mules scored again on the next possession to restore the two-goal margin at 4-2.

• However, Amherst blew the game open from there, scoring four unanswered to take a lead that they would never relinquish. Petersen got the first, cutting across the face of goal and converting a Becker pass from a tough angle.

Caroline Curtis put away an unassisted goal before Becker and Petersen connected twice more to make it 8-2 with 8:32 to go in the half.

• Colby scored twice to narrow the advantage to four goals, but Becker broke up the run with her first goal of the day on the woman-up. Another Mules goal put the score at 9-5 at the half.

• Although the first half was defined by the offensive fireworks, the second half was all about the defenses: both teams only netted twice more in the final two quarters. Amherst netminder

Lily Samoska starred in the third quarter, making 5 saves and giving up only one goal in the frame.

• Colby opened the second half scoring, and Finley sealed her hat trick with a couple minutes later with a solo-effort, beating her defender and scoring high stick-side to make it 10-6 at the end of the third.

• Curtis potted the final Amherst goal of the day on a free position, bouncing a shot into the back of the cage on the woman-up, and Colby scored once more to account for the 11-7 final score.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Amherst outshot Colby 29-18 overall and 17-13 in shots on goal in the contest. The defense did their part as well, causing 8 turnovers and winning the battle for possession via ground balls 13-11.

• With her six points against the Mules, Becker has now scored more points in 10 games in 2026 (44) than she has in any season of her career to date (previous season high was 39 in 2025).

• Samoska made 8 saves on the day.