BRUNSWICK, Me. – Senior Brendan Reilly led the Amherst College men's lacrosse team with four goals -- including one with 1:31 remaining -- as the 13th-ranked Mammoths played a tactical game to earn an 12-11 victory over Endicott in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bowdoin College.

Amherst got a jump on Endicott in quarter one, closing out the first quarter with a three-goal lead, 6-3. Endicott tied the game at the beginning of the second quarter, but Amherst retained the lead, entering the halfway mark with a one-point lead. With a score of 8-7, Amherst began took its lead into halftime. Both teams put a few goals on the board, but once again, Endicott tied the score, 10-10. 

With the victory, Amherst improved to 11-5 on the season. The Mammoths will return to action against Bowdoin College tomorrow (Sunday) at 3 p.m. in the third round of the NCAA tournament. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Endicott scored first, putting a goal on the board with 12 minutes and 57 seconds remaining in quarter one. Amherst responded well, with Alex Vlacich achieving a successful clear attempt and firing a successful shot to tie the score, 1-1. Alex Giacobbe followed suit, scoring another goal for the Mammoths, his 31st of the season. Just two minutes later, Reilly put another goal on the board to elevate the score to 3-1. A penalty on behalf of Endicott resulted in a face-off, providing Amherst with an extra-man opportunity. Willie Doyle gained possession of the ball, making a swift pass to Bob Gross to set him up for a goal.

* Endicott briefly broke up the Mammoths' scoring, but Ben Wick and Bennett Chow both scored goals to increase Amherst's lead. The Mammoths ended the first quarter with the score sitting at 6-3. 

* Endicott tied the score at the beginning of quarter three, but Chow scored a goal to regain possession of the lead. Nico Berger fired a shot that was just wide of the goal, but Amherst gained possession of the ball quickly after this shot, leading to Doyle assisting Reilly to a goal. Amherst concluded the second quarter with a one-point advantage, 8-7. 

* Amherst and Endicott each put goals on the board in the early part of quarter three, leading to a tie game by the three-minute mark. Among the Mammoths' scorers in the third quarter were Chow and Reilly. Despite the game being tied various times, Amherst never fell behind Endicott. With goals from Wick and Reilly, a tight battle within the fourth quarter came to a close, and the Mammoths came out on top. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst out-saved Endicott, with 18 saves to Endicott's 11

* Amherst collected a total of 26 ground balls 

* Amherst fired 52 shots compared to Endicott's 47