AMHERST, Mass. – Cardinals junior Olivia Lai scored four goals to lead Wesleyan University to a 16-2 win over the Amherst College women's lacrosse team in a Tuesday evening NESCAC matchup between nationally ranked Little Three rivals on Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium.

The Cardinals, ranked 11th in the nation in the latest ILWomen/IWLCA Division III Poll, improved to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in NESCAC play with their fifth straight win while the 20th-ranked Mammoths fell to 6-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

The Mammoths are back in action on Saturday (April 9) at 11 a.m., visiting fifth-ranked Colby for a NESCAC clash.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Wesleyan struck first in a low-scoring first half as junior midfielder Kate Balicki put the Cardinals on the board midway through the first quarter. The Mammoths tied the score when senior attack Marina Bevacqua scored her eighth goal of the season with 2:13 on the clock in the first quarter. The Cardinals pulled back ahead when sophomore attack Laura Baine scored in the final minute of the first quarter.

* The second quarter had the same scoreline as the first with Wesleyan once again outscoring Amherst by a 2-1 tally. Junior midfielder Fiona Jones scored her seventh goal of the season on a free-position shot for the Mammoths with 6:27 to go in the second and the Cardinals took a 4-2 lead into halftime.

* The Cardinals found their offensive groove and clamped down on defense in the second half, keeping the Mammoths off the scoreboard while scoring eight goals in the third quarter and four goals in the fourth.

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Senior goalie Abby Wolk made five saves to earn the win for the Cardinals as Wesleyan outshot Amherst, 32-8, and held a 26-7 advantage in shots on goal.

* The Cardinals also had the edge in ground balls (26-16) and draw controls (15-7).