Hoboken, N.J. – The No. 20 Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team fell to No. 13 Amherst College, 16-11, on Saturday afternoon.
 
Anna Velardi and Emily Smart each recorded four points for Stevens (5-4), while Bridget Finley led Amherst (6-2) with six goals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mammoths opened the game with two quick goals, including one just 35 seconds into the contest. Maddie Hogan put the Ducks on the board with 6:53 remaining in the opening quarter, converting a free-position attempt. However, Amherst closed out the first period with two more goals in the final 2:32, taking a 4-1 lead into the second quarter.
 
The visitors extended their lead by scoring the first four goals of the second quarter, including three in a span of just 1:31. After Amherst netted a free-position goal at the 5:18 mark, the Ducks finally halted the run with a goal from Velardi. Stevens was assessed a pair of yellow cards late in the period, and Amherst capitalized with a free-position goal with 52 seconds left in the half.
 
Amherst outshot Stevens 15-8 in the first half, with Felicity Heilferty making four saves.
 
The Ducks opened the third quarter with a man-up goal as Stefanie Sellitto found the back of the net off an assist from Hogan. Stevens continued to battle, with Quincy Connell and Lindsay Esposito forcing turnovers. The Mammoths reached double digits midway through the period before Smart notched her first goal of the afternoon, assisted by Sellitto. Amherst responded with a 3-0 run, pushing its lead to 12-4 with 5:02 left in the third. Hogan cut the deficit before the quarter ended, scoring a man-up goal to make it a seven-goal game heading into the final period.
 
The teams traded goals over the first 2:32 of the fourth, with Elise Hensley and Alison Lax scoring for the Ducks. After Amherst extended its lead to 15-7, Velardi and Smart connected for a goal to make it 15-8. Stevens held Amherst scoreless over the final 6:06, closing the game with three straight goals. Alison Murray and Smart scored just 35 seconds apart before Murray capped the scoring off a Smart assist with 1:29 remaining.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Hensley's goal marked the first of the season for the sophomore.
• Sellitto led the Ducks with six draw controls, while Connell and Lauren Sullivan each recorded three.
• Connell added four caused turnovers and three ground balls, while Sullivan scooped up five ground balls.
• Heilferty made seven saves in 42:28 of action.

UP NEXT
The Ducks open Middle Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday, visiting Arcadia for a 7 p.m. matchup.