The men’s lacrosse team survived a chaotic fourth quarter to clinch a 10-7 victory over Bowdoin last Saturday. The fourth-ranked purple and white faced off in their first game of the season with a veteran lineup that just came off an unprecedented 18-3 season. In 2015, Amherst dismantled Bowdoin 20-4 as they climbed their way to the top of the NESCAC.

This year, the win did not come as easily. The purple and white started the day with a full head of steam in the first quarter, notching five straight goals. Senior Kane Haffey ’16 struck first, finishing the day with two goals and an assist. Amherst maintained this lead as they headed into the second half, and used this cushion en route to a well-fought victory.

Bowdoin’s Brandon Lee was the first to cut the lead in a back-and-forth third period. Afterwards, senior midfielder Dylan Park struck twice to put the purple and white back up by a score of 7-2 going into the final period.

In the fourth period, Bowdoin fought for a furious shift in momentum that saw the Polar Bears minimize their eventual three-goal deficit after daggers from Haffey and Charlie Gill ’16. A late three-goal run, however, breathed new life into the Bowdoin offense. Goalie Cody Tranbarger ’17 kept the purple and white alive with 12 stops and four ground balls.

The final minutes of the game saw significant action with four goals in three minutes, and it seemed as if nobody could take a breath until the clock finally ran out.

The purple and white had a much easier time with non-conference opponent Skidmore on Tuesday evening, powering past the Thoroughbreds 19-8. Continuing their strong first half play from this weekend, Amherst scored five goals in both periods to give them a 10-2 lead going into the third quarter.

Senior Quinn Moroney and first-year Evan Wolf led the purple and white with three goals apiece, with Moroney contributing three assists in the effort as well.

The team returns to action this Saturday, March 12, with a home game against Bates at 1 p.m. They then face Western New England on Tuesday, March 15, at 6 p.m. in Orlando, Florida, and Cortland State on Friday, March 18, in Tampa, Florida.