By: Zach Perbeck

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's lacrosse team fell to Amherst in another close NESCAC matchup on Wednesday evening at Silfen Field. The Mammoths triumphed by a score of 15-13 while holding off a ferocious late-game comeback by the Camels.
 
The game started off with Amherst looking poised to run away from Connecticut College within the first seven minutes, scoring three goals to pull away handedly. Sophomore Jack Tenzer (Charlotte, N.C.) got the Camels on the board with just over eight minutes remaining in the quarter to kick-start a three-goal run for Conn, who tied the game up five minutes later on a goal by junior Gus Mazzocca (West Hartford, Conn.). Despite another Amherst goal before the quarter ended, the Camels had brought themselves back into the game with 45 minutes left to be played.
 
The second quarter saw the Camels capitalize on their momentum by opening the period with three straight scores, two of which came from the stick of senior Nick Farnham (Falmouth, Maine) to give the Camels a two-score lead. After another late-quarter goal from Amherst, the halftime buzzer sounded, and Connecticut College maintained a one-goal lead.
 
After the intermission, the Camels looked to open the third quarter much like they did the second. This time it was junior Jared Rainville (Watertown, Conn.) who opened the scoring for the Camels just 88 seconds into the half. Unlike the previous quarter, there would be no three-goal run to open the period, as Amherst's Brock Gonzalez put the team on his shoulders, scoring three consecutive goals, followed by two more from other Mammoths, and finally ending Amherst's six-goal run with the fifth of his six goals on the day. This time, the Camels would score the last-minute goal, as freshman Aidan McAvoy (Charlotte, N.C.) found the back of the net, but the Camels faced a three-goal deficit as the clock hit zero to signal the end of the third quarter.
 
As the final period commenced, Amherst got off to another early start, scoring just 72 seconds into the period to bring their lead to four. After the two teams traded goals for the next ten minutes, the Camels found themselves trailing 15-10 with three minutes remaining in the contest. Rainville was able to find freshman Patrick Atkins (Topsfield, Mass.) who converted on a shot with 2:32 remaining to narrow the lead to four goals and giving fans flashes to the numerous come-from-behind victories for the Camels so far this season. Not even a minute later, Farnham found the back of the net again, thanks to another pass from Rainville, to bring the score to 15-12. With time running down, the Camels found themselves on the attack again with under a minute to play, Farnham this time found freshman JJ Ford (Clinton, Conn.) to bring the lead down to just two goals. After a won faceoff by Conn College and a consequent timeout, Rainville had another look at the net but Amherst goalkeeper Carson Marano made the save to secure the victory for the Mammoths.
 
Sophomore Will Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) took the loss for the Camels, making seven saves and allowing 15 goals. Marano earned the win for the Mammoths while making 17 saves and allowing 13 goals.

Connecticut College (4-5, NESCAC 3-4) will next travel to Lewiston, Maine to take on Bates in another NESCAC matchup on Saturday, April 16^th at 1:00 p.m.