AMHERST, Mass. – First-year attack Brendan Reilly scored four goals and sophomore goalkeeper Brooks Catlin backstopped an inspired defensive effort as the Amherst College men's lacrosse team posted a 12-4 win over archrival Williams College on Saturday in NESCAC action on Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium.

The Mammoths, ranked 15th in the nation in the latest USILA Division III poll, improved to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in NESCAC play, while the 17th-ranked Ephs fell to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the NESCAC.

The Mammoths return to action on Wednesday (April 10), visiting Connecticut College for a NESCAC clash at 7 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* The Ephs struck first as senior Finlay MacKnight scored on the opening possession but the Mammoths quickly took control of the game with four goals in the next five minutes. Junior Alex Giacobbe scored to tie the game and sophomore Matthew Sheinberg gave the Mammoths the lead with his ninth goal of the season. Sophomore Bob Gross followed with his 22nd goal of the season before Giacobbe scored an impressive goal, splitting a pair of Williams defenders to give the Mammoths a 4-1 lead with nine minutes to play in the first quarter.

* Sophomore Alex Vlacich extended the Amherst lead with his seventh goal of the season midway through the second quarter. Williams' only goal of the quarter was answered by Reilly's first goal of the game, giving the Mammoths a 6-2 lead at halftime.

* The Mammoths held the Ephs scoreless in the third quarter while netting three goals to increase the lead. Sophomore defenseman Thompson Lau picked off a pass and ran the length of the field to score his fifth goal of the season and senior Montana McLaughlin tallied his first goal of the season late in the quarter.

* Reilly set up Giacobbe's third tally of the game then scored two more goals of his own in the fourth quarter before Williams got a pair of goals from junior Harrison Cross and senior Nick Bates in the closing minutes.



BY THE NUMBERS:

* Reilly finished with four goals and one assist for the Mammoths, the third straight game in which he has scored a hat trick. Giacobbe also netted a hat trick for the third straight game with three goals.

* Making his first collegiate start, Catlin made 11 saves while allowing only four goals to earn his first collegiate win. The four goals allowed in the game were the fewest goals allowed by the Mammoths since 2018.

* Amherst outshot Williams, 45-25, and held a 32-15 advantage in shots on goal.

* The Mammoths won 13-of-19 faceoffs with junior Nicholas Kopp winning 12-of-17 at the X.

* Sheinberg picked up six ground balls as the Mammoths held a 39-26 advantage in ground balls.