AMHERST, MA -- A seven goal first quarter and five goals from Bridget Finley paced the No. 5 Amherst women's lacrosse team to a commanding win on Wednesday, March 25. Coming off a two-win week on the road in California, the Mammoths returned home to Gooding Field looking to maintain their undefeated start. They left little doubt from the beginning, grabbing an early lead keeping their foot on the gas on the way to a 20-4 win.
 
With the win, Amherst improves to 7-0 overall while the Pride drop to 3-5. The Mammoths will move back over to Pratt Field for their next contest, taking on NESCAC foe Bowdoin on Saturday, March 28. The contest against the Polar Bears is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* Though Springfield got on the board first, the Mammoths weren't down for long. On their next offensive possession, Caroline Curtis got on the board off an assist from Kate Becker to tie the game at 1-1. Finley was next to score, with Bridget Darcy getting the assist before potting two goals of her own to open a 4-1 lead, one that they would never give up.

* Clara Sosa was next to get in on the action getting her first two of four total goals, and though Springfield was next to put one away, Finley's second of the game closed the quarter with Amherst up 7-2.

* The Mammoths went on a 6-1 run in the second quarter: Darcy put the first into the back of the cage, then Finley again put two straight goals away to continue her stellar offensive day. Though the Pride netted one to break up Finley's solo run, the senior would put in her fourth of the first half soon after. Izzie Brabant's first collegiate goal, off an assist from classmate Annie Lopez, closed the first half scoring with Amherst up 10, with the score at 13-3 at the break.

* The second half opened with a bang, with Sosa scoring unassisted on the first possession of the third quarter. Brabant and Katie Ng netted the other two third-quarter tallies, with Amherst holding a 16-3 advantage entering the final quarter.

* Margeaux Matz and Caroline Reichert got in on the fun in the final stanza, scoring less than 90 seconds apart. Matz scored her second of the year unassisted, while Reichert's tally came off an assist from Gaby Sosa. Ng was the final scorer of the night, tallying her team's last two goals late in the fourth quarter.

* The Amherst defense put on a show in the second half, conceding only once in the game's final 30 minutes, with that goal coming with just 3:16 left and accounting for the 20-4 final.

BY THE NUMBERS:
 
* Amherst outshot the Pride 34-12 overall and 25-8 in shots on goal. They also won the defensive battle, picking up 17 ground balls and only committing 6 turnovers.
 
* With five goals, Finley moved into the team lead with 20 in 7 games. Becker has put up multiple assists in all but one game this season.

* Lily Samoska made 3 saves on the day, while Jessye Salmon stopped 2 attempts and Marlow Meador was not called into action.