AMHERST — A 6-0 third-quarter run from the Amherst girls lacrosse team was the difference in its 15-5 home win over Hampshire on Thursday following a 4-3 halftime lead for the Raiders.
Amherst picked up its third win in a row (4-2) with the victory while Hampshire fell to 3-2.
“In the first half, our special teams wasn’t really doing what they needed to do,” Hurricanes head coach Andrew MacDougall said. “We regrouped and we approached it from the way we’ve been doing it in practice and that ended up springing a lot of the action in between the restraining lines. I think that was a huge difference because [Hampshire’s] drawer was absolutely phenomenal and we needed to do something to try and turn the game around in between the 30s.”
Kiko Bhowmik (five goals) and Ava Carey (two goals, three assists) paced the offense for Amherst. Sylvie Walker (three points), Emilia Luetjen (goal, two assists) and Claire Kennedy (goal, assist) also registered multiple points for the ‘Canes.
Rylie Simmons starred for Hampshire with a pair of goals, plus corralled six draw controls.
“I thought Rylie Simmons had a great game,” Raiders head coach Grace Ahrensdorf said. “I thought she stuck with it in the midfield. I actually don’t think I subbed her once, but I felt like she, for the most part, was able to keep her head in the game and keep really fighting for the balls and going for the goals when she needed to.”
Emmie Collins (goal, assist) turned in a multi-point effort for Hampshire as well.
In goal, Eden Polak totaled 16 saves for Amherst. Emma Erickson (five saves) and Kailee Roncone (nine saves) split time in the Hampshire net.
Granby 21, Pittsfield 10 — Kelly Lynne Kennedy (seven) and Kalli White (six) combined for a baker’s dozen in goals as the Rams used an offensive onslaught to breeze past the Generals on Thursday.
Mylin Laliberte (four) and Ava Elizabeth Loughman (three) recorded hat tricks of their own for Granby, while Faith Ramos stopped eight shots in goal.
South Hadley 12, Mount Greylock 6 — The Tigers doubled up the Mounties on Thursday afternoon, scoring double-digit goals for the second time this spring in a home win.
Ava Asselin and Caitlin Dean each recorded hat tricks, Kelsey Zraunig and Margo Watkins added three points (two goals, one assist) of their own while Raquel Losty (goal), Hannah Haesaert (goal) and Willa Camp (assist) contributed offensively for South Hadley (2-4).
Smith Vocational 8, Monson 6 — Erin Miller matched the Mustangs’ output with a whopping six goals by herself to help the Vikings earn a road victory on Thursday.
Katelyn Hennessey and Aly Downie each scored for Smith Voc as well, Jordyn Work saved seven Monson shots in the cage and the Vikings defense shut down most shooting lanes to hold Monson to only six goals.
Agawam 17, Belchertown 3 — The Orioles had no answer for Agawam on Thursday afternoon on the road, as they put up only three goals in their fourth straight.
Belchertown returns to action on Tuesday for a road matchup against Northampton.
