Amherst, Mass. - March 8, 2022 - The Springfield College women's lacrosse program dropped its first game of the season on the road at Amherst College, 16-5, in non-conference play on Tuesday night at Pratt Field. 

Springfield suffers its first loss of the 2022 season, while Amherst, who is ranked No 23 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division III Coaches Poll, improves to 1-1. 

Taylor Pichel (Hopkinton, Mass) led Springfield with two goals and a helper, with Arielle Johnson (Woodstock, Conn.) assisting both of Pichel's goals and adding a goal of her own. Haley Moody (Wells, Maine) registered nine saves for the Pride in the setback. 

The Mammouths owned the first quarter of play as the hosts registered six goals in the first 15 minutes to take a 6-0 lead heading into the second. The Pride would build a response in the second quarter with its first strike coming at 9:58 as Johnson curled the crease finding Pichel cutting across for the score. 20 seconds later, Maddie Roy (Wilbraham, Mass.) cashed in a free position attempt to cut into the Amherst lead and make the score 6-2. After an Amherst goal at 6:34, Pichel connected with Katie Martel (Hartland, Conn.), who sliced past the defense on the left side to make the score 7-3 with 3:38 remaining in the quarter. The hosts scored two more before the half to make the score 9-3.

At 8:55 in the third Johnson got on the board for Springfield as the junior drew a foul in the circle and converted on the free position attempt, cutting further into the Amherst lead at 9-4. The Mammouths responded with a free position of their own to go up 10-4 with 7:43 on the clock. Amherst looked to improve its lead over the final three minutes of the quarter, however Moody would make a pair of stops in transition and disrupt a free position shot to close the third, leaving Springfield trailing 10-4.

At 13:04, Johnson and Pichel linked up for another Springfield goal to give the Pride its fifth goal of the contest. Amherst expanded its lead with four-straight goals to finish the game and hand Springfield its first loss of the season. 

Springfield will play Endicott on Saturday, March 12 at 12:00. 

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Springfield "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.