MEDFORD, Mass. -- It was an afternoon of catch-up for the #8 Amherst College men's lacrosse team and although it came close, ultimately the #1 Tufts University Jumbos were able to pull away for a 20-13 victory over the Mammoths in a NESCAC Tournament semifinal game at Tufts' Bello Field. 

The Mammoths never led in the game and fell to 11-5 overall this season. They will await word on a possible at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is Sunday at p.m. and can be watched HERE. Tufts improved to 17-0 in 2023. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* The game was tied 1-1 early on but three Jumbo goals quickly put Amherst in a three-goal deficit. They closed to 4-3 before Tufts reeled off four consecutive tallies for an 8-3 lead. With 8:12 left in the first quarter, Jake Bennett took the ball from behind the Jumbo goal on the right side and flung a quick shot over the goalie's shoulder on the near side to make it 8-4. Neither team scored for 4:15, but Mammoth Bob Gross broke that deadlock with a goal from 10 feet out with 3:57 left to close within 8-5. At halftime, Amherst trailed 9-6.

* The Mammoths closed within two just 48 seconds into the third quarter when Alex Giacobbe was able to fire a shot on the short side from close range that found the net. Over the next seven minutes, the two teams traded goals, with Amherst staying within three. But another four-goal Tufts' run put the Mammoths in a 15-9 hole with 7:12 remaining. Connor Guest put an end to that run with a great drive to the goal, using his speed to create an open shot from the left side that beat the keeper and make it 15-10 with 5:10 left. Bennett scored again with 4:18 to go to cut the Tufts lead to 15-11, and neither team would score again in the third quarter. 

* As the fourth quarter opened, Mammoth goalie Mitch Likins got hot, making three beautiful saves to keep Amherst alive. Gross scored an early goal off a beautiful pass from Tanyr Krummenacher to close within three.

* Following the third Likins save, the keeper himself helped the Mammoths cut the deficit to just two with a great outlet pass that set up some pinpoint passing from the likes of Ethan Opdahl to Krummenacher, who delivered a behind-the-back-pass across the slot to Gross, who scored as he crossed through the crease with 8:55 remaining in the game. 

* However, once again Tufts would respond, scoring the final five goals of the game to account for the final score. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Tufts outshot Amherst, 61-44, won 21 of 36 face-offs, and took the war for groundballs, 48-36. 

* Likins finished with 14 saves in goal for Amherst. 

* Jack McHugh led the squad with three caused turnovers. Likins and Nicholas Kopp were tops on the team in groundballs with six and five, respectively. 

* Bennet led the team with six goals and an assist. Krummenacher had one goal and three assists. Gross had three goals.