SPARKS, Md. – In a game that turned into a full 60-minute grind, the Amherst College men's lacrosse team showed its composure late and squeezed out a 13-11 win over Swarthmore on this afternoon at USA Lacrosse Headquarters.

Amherst controlled long stretches of the pace and consistently found quality looks, but Swarthmore refused to go away, answering nearly every run and keeping the margin razor-thin. The game was tied 4-4 after the first quarter, 7-7 at halftime, and still 10-10 heading into the fourth, setting up a final period where every possession mattered. When the moment demanded it, the Mammoths made the decisive plays, winning key ground balls, forcing timely turnovers, and converting the chances that ultimately decided the contest.

That late edge came from Patrick Arnold, who scored twice in the fourth, including a man-up finish, and Bob Gross, who delivered a crucial answer in the closing stretch. Brendan Reilly and Arnold each finished with four goals, while Gross added three, as the trio accounted for 11 of Amherst's 13 tallies.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Swarthmore struck first, but Amherst answered in the opening quarter behind Willie Doyle's goal at 7:00 (assist Gross) and a quick late surge: Reilly scored at 3:10. The game was tied at 4-4 after one period, with Reilly scoring his second goal at 0:09 and another goal following at 3:34.


*Amherst continued to respond in the second quarter. Gross scored twice in a 46-second span, unassisted at 13:19 and again at 12:33 (assisted by Reilly), and Reilly completed his first-half hat trick at 5:59 to send the game to halftime tied 7-7.


* Swarthmore opened the third with momentum, getting goals at 0:44 (Ohrman), 1:23 (Butler), and 5:14 (Mabbs), but Amherst rallied back. Dutch Lohnes scored at 11:04 (assist Matthew Sheinberg), Reilly buried his fourth at 11:38 (assist Willie Doyle), and Arnold finished at 13:55 (assist Alex Vlacich) to bring the score back level at 10-10 going to the fourth.


* Amherst won the fourth quarter 3-1. Arnold scored at 6:14 (man-up) and again at 4:51 (assist Reilly), before Gross delivered the late go-ahead goal at 13:13 to secure the 13-11 win.


BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst held a 50–36 advantage in shots and a 29–23 edge in shots on goal.

* The Mammoths won ground balls 35-29, forced nine turnovers, and went 17-for-21 on clears.


Amherst won faceoffs 14-13 and finished 1-for-3 on extra-man chances (Swarthmore: 1-for-5).