AMHERST, Mass. - The Amherst College women's lacrosse team jumped to a 7-1 halftime lead and held off Bowdoin for a 11-6 season-opening win on Saturday.

Amherst, ranked 12th in the latest IWLCA poll, improves to 1-0 while the ninth-ranked Polar Bears fall to 0-1.

Game Highlights

• Amherst scored seven of its 11 goals in the first half, including three from Mary Grace Cronin and two from Kate Wyeth
• Bowdoin struck first just 34 seconds into the contest as Megan O'Connor found the back of the net to give the Polar Bears a 1-0 lead before the hosts rolled off seven straight goals
• Amherst built its lead to 11-4 with under eight minutes to play
• O'Connor and Lindsay Picard scored late goals to close the final margin to 11-6

By The Numbers

• Amherst's Mary Grace Cronin led all players with five goals and an assist
• Bowdoin was led by two goals from O'Connor and three assists, and a goal, from Picard
• Christy Forrest helped Amherst amass their first-half lead thanks to 14 saves in the opening frame
• Kayli Weiss and Erin Morrissey each played a half between the pipes for Bowdoin with Weiss making three stops, while Morrissey fended off six shots
• The Polar Bears were led by five ground balls from Picard and three each from Mettler Growney and Halsey McKinney, while Beecher earned five of the team's 10 draws

Up Next

• Bowdoin will play its home opener on Tuesday evening against the University of New England at 7:00 p.m. on Ryan Field