LEWISTON, MAINE – Becker's five-point day helped No. 8 Amherst women's lacrosse team extend their season-opening undefeated streak to four games on Saturday, March 14. Coming off dominant win on Tuesday against Smith, the Mammoths returned to NESCAC play on the road against Bates. After going down early, Amherst pulled away, scoring 7 unanswered goals across three quarters to finish with a 12-4 triumph.
 
With the win, the Amherst improves to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the NESCAC while the Bobcats fall to 2-4 (0-3 NESCAC). The Mammoths will fly cross-country for their next set of games, taking the trip to California to take on Claremont-Mudd-Scrips Colleges on Tuesday, March 17. The game against the Athenas is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. EDT.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* Bates got on the board on the first offensive possession of the game, but the Mammoths responded immediately, scoring on their first opportunity to make it 1-1 after just 60 seconds of play. Emily Petersen got the goal, cutting through the slot and netting off a Becker feed from behind the net.  

* The Mammoths took over from there, going on a 6-0 run the rest of the first half. Bridget Finley tallied unassisted to give her side the lead with 8:00 left in the first frame, and Sofia Guttmann continued her goal-scoring form with a woman-up free position marker to double the advantage. Goaltender Lily Samoska held the line on the other end of the field, coming up with multiple big saves as Amherst built their lead.

* The third goal of the run came 30 seconds into the second quarter via a Mia Raven free position shot, and the fourth when Petersen and Becker combined again. Bridget Darcy closed the run by finishing a beautiful team goal on the counterattack. Ella Bobbett picked up a ground ball and hit Petersen above the restraining line. Petersen turned on the jets, outrunning her defender to the top of the 8-meter and drawing three Bobcats to her. She dished to Becker to the left, who drew Darcy's mark and then found the junior for an easy goal at the doorstep to make it 6-1.

* The second half continued much like the first, with a Guttmann free-position goal 1:37 into the third frame extending the lead before Bates put their first goal since just 30 seconds into the game to narrow the margin to 7-2.

* The rest of the third quarter was all Amherst, as Kate Becker snuck to the edge of the crease and received a pass from Caroline Curtis – the entire defense was focused on the Mammoths' threats at the top of the 12, and Becker took advantage to net her first of the game. Emma Crotty closed out the third quarter scoring with a goal about 2 minutes later.

* Bates opened the final stanza with two goals to shrink the Mammoths' advantage to 9-4, but that is as close as they would get. Crotty got her second of the game, and Curtis extended her goal-scoring streak to 2 games with a great individual effort – the sophomore dodged past three defenders to score at the doorstep. An Emily Petersen woman-up tally from Kate Becker sealed the 12-4 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS:
 
* Petersen put up her third 3-goal game of the year against the Bobcats.
 
* Kate Becker put up her 2^nd 4-assist game of the season and 3^rd of her career against Bates.

* Lily Samoska made 10 saves on the day.