CLERMONT, Fla. - The Bowdoin College men's lacrosse team couldn't hold an early lead and fell to Amherst 14-12 in a nationally-ranked battle Saturday evening.

The seventh-ranked Jeffs improve to 4-0 (3-0 NESCAC). The 15th-ranked Polar Bears fall to 2-1 (1-1 NESCAC).

Keegan Mehlhorn scored three times for Bowdoin while Billy Bergner notched two goals and two assists. Patrick Lawlor scored twice with an assist while Franklin Reis also found the back of the net on two occasions. Aaron Mathias had three goals and two assists to lead the Jeffs.

Bowdoin staked itself to a 5-2 advantage early in the second period after a pair of goals from Reis to open the quarter. But Amherst rolled off seven straight goals - four to end the first half and the first three of the third quarter - to take a 9-5 advantage. Amherst extended its lead to 14-9 in the fourth quarter before a furious Bowdoin rally in the final two minutes trimmed the final score to 14-12.

Chris Williamson made seven saves for Bowdoin. Sam Jakimo stopped nine for Amherst. Brendan Hughes won 20 of 29 draws for the Polar Bears, who held a 43-32 edge in shots.