AMHERST, Mass.. - The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team went back-and-forth with No. 16 Amherst College, but ultimately fell 12-9 on Wednesday night from Pratt Field at Lehman Stadium. With the loss, Conn falls to 6-6 on the season and 2-6 in conference play, while Bates improves to 5-6 overall and 1-5 conference action.
The first quarter was low-scoring as the teams combined for just three goals in the opening 15 minutes. Amherst (6-5, 3-4) opened the scoring at 7:42 as Sofia Guttmann got the Mammoths on the board with a free-position shot. Conn (6-6, 2-4) responded a minute and a half later, as Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) converted on a free-position shot, tying the game at one. The score stayed tied until late in the quarter, as Coughlin knotted her second of the contest with 52 seconds left, as the Camels led 2-1 after one.
Conn opened the second quarter with an early goal from Coughlin, as the Camels pushed the lead to 3-1 at 12:16. Amherst responded with back-to-back goals, tying the game at three at 10:28. Just over a minute later, the Camels retook the lead as Emma Ognibene's (New Canaan, Conn.) free-position goal made it 4-3. The Mammoths answered once again, before Coughlin knotted her fourth goal of the game at 2:48 making it 5-4. Late in the frame, Amherst answered yet again, as the game was tied at five at the break.
The third quarter continued the game trend, as Conn retook the lead on Coughlin's fifth goal of the game at 12:18. Amherst tied it at 10:42, before Caroline Bruce (Acton, Mass.) connected with Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) for a beautiful finish to make it 7-6 Camels at 6:56. The Mammoths recorded back-to-back markers, taking an 8-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Conn tied the game early in the fourth quarter, as Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) scored at 14:17. Amherst answered with four goals in a four minute span to move in front 12-8 with 9:23 to play. A minute and a half later, Coughlin tied her career-high with her sixth goal of the game, cutting the deficit to three. Conn had chances to close the gap, but the Camels were unable to find the net again, falling 12-9.
Conn outshot Amherst 22-18, while the Mammoths controlled 14 of 25 draws.
Viollette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) got the start in net, finishing with two saves. Coughlin paced the Camels with six goals, while Downey, Johnston, and Ognibene all added one goal, with Bruce notching an assist.
Conn scooped up 17 ground balls, with Caroline Barbieri (Longmeadow, Mass.), Eliza Ritter (Glen Head, N.Y.), and Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) all collecting three. The Camels forced 10 turnovers with Downey causing three. Con was 18-20 on clear attempts, while Weber controlled eight draws.
Jessye Salmon picked up the win in the cage making nine saves. Guttmann and Mia Raven led the Mammoths with four points each, while Amherst went 18-21 on clear attempts.
Conn wraps up non-conference action on Saturday afternoon, as the Camels travel to Framingham, Mass. to take on Framingham State at 1:00 p.m.
