HARTFORD, CT. – A fast start wasn't enough as the fifth-seeded Amherst women's lacrosse team bowed out of the NESCAC tournament on Saturday, April 25. The Mammoths took the trip down I-91 for the second time in four days to face fourth-seeded Trinity, another nationally ranked squad that bested them four days ago to set up this matchup. The Bantams got the best of the Mammoths once again, as Amherst gave up three goals in the final 5 minutes to fall 9-8.

With the loss, Amherst falls to 12-4 overall while the Bantams improve to 12-4. The Mammoths have all but locked up an NCAA bid, but will have to wait nine days to find out their opponent and game location. The NCAA DIII Women's Lacrosse Selection Show will air on NCAA.com on Monday, May 4, at 10:30am Eastern Time.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* The Mammoths came out firing, opening the scoring 1:37 into the game – Mia Raven found Bridget Darcy cutting down the bottom of the 8-meter. The junior finished at the doorstep, giving her side a 1-0 lead. Clara Sosa was the next goalscorer, taking on two defenders, split-dodging her way to a shot that beat the Trinity goaltender to extend the lead. She doubled her goal tally with a woman-up free position goal to make it 3-0 just over 5 minutes into the game.

* Trinity broke the shutout with 4:13 left in the first quarter and netted again with a minute to go to send the game to the second with the score standing at 3-2 Amherst. They made it three straight early in the frame, but Amherst halted the run with a Darcy goal off a pass in front from Kate Becker to retake the lead at 4-3.

* Trinity again scored back-to-back goals, netting twice to take their first lead of the game 5-4. Sosa stopped that run to draw the game even with her second free position goal of the day and bring the teams to the half tied at 5-5.

* Compared to the fast start in the first half, the beginning of the second half was much more of a defensive battle. Bridget Finley scored 5:29 into the frame to give her side the lead before the teams went goalless until the Bantams tied it five minutes later.

* Senior goalkeeper Jessye Salmon was vital in the Mammoths' defensive efforts all day, making three saves in the first quarter and two big stops in the third to keep the game even. That effort sent the game to the fourth quarter even at 6-6.

*  Just like in the third, the teams traded shots with no success early in the stanza. Amherst was the first to draw blood, with Finley converting a free position with 6:50 to go; however, Trinity immediately got a goal of their own to knot the score once again and netted to take the lead two minutes later.

* Down a goal with 3:13 to go, Amherst pushed for the equalizer. Though they gave up another and saw themselves in a two-goal hole, they got within one with stellar defensive effort. A persistent ride gave them the ball back at midfield, and Finley lead the charge, hitting a wide-open Emily Petersen in stride with open field in front of her. The senior easily finished the breakaway chance to shrink the lead to 9-8.

* The Mammoths got one last bite at the apple with three seconds to go, but Petersen's low-rolling effort was deflected in front, and Amherst fell 9-8.

BY THE NUMBERS:
 
* The Amherst draw control unit continues to pick up momentum, collecting 13 of 19 draws. Grace Shannon led the way with six draw controls on the day.
 
* Sosa recorded her fourth three-goal game of the year, while Raven got her second three-assist performance.

* Salmon made eight stops against the Bantams.