AMHERST — For the second time this season, the Amherst Regional boys lacrosse team fell to Agawam, this time dropping a 16-10 decision on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes gutted through difficult playing conditions on a soaked, grass field and managed to make Tuesday's contest much more competitive than the last time the two teams met. The Brownies beat the 'Canes 10-2 on April 11 and save for a second quarter on Tuesday in which Agawam outscored Amherst, 7-2, the hosts were right there with one of the premier programs in Western Massachusetts.

"We got the ball off the ground, which is something we didn't do a very good job of the last time we played them," Hurricanes head coach Rich Ferro. "We were able to keep the ball on offense today. The fact that we put up 10 [goals] today, versus the two the first time, is a huge improvement for us."

The Brownies used their big second quarter to take a 9-5 lead into halftime. Amherst scored five more during the final half, but Agawam held on by outscoring the 'Canes with seven goals of its own.

"In terms of our settled offense and our settled defense and our hustle, I couldn't be more happy in our guys right now and how we came out and played today," Ferro said.

Offensively, the Brownies were more composed at moving the ball up field and executing quick-strike attacks. Agawam scored multiple goals right after faceoffs, a category it also came out on top in at 14-7. 

Tri Nguyen and Sawyer Ferro potted hat tricks for Amherst while Silas Hazen led all Hurricanes' players with five points on two goals and three assists. Jason Kim got a workout in net for Amherst, totaling 20 saves in the loss.

Per Tuesday's updated MIAA state power ranking, the Brownies are the 14th-ranked team in Division 2 and that was before they picked up their 10th win of the season against the 'Canes. Amherst slotted in at 17th in the Div. 3 rankings Tuesday morning.

Tough competition will be the theme for the Hurricanes down the stretch as they'll face West Springfield twice (No. 19, Div. 2) as well as East Longmeadow (No. 10, Div. 3) in three of their final five remaining games.

"I'm good with it, because this is where we need to be, heading in that direction," Ferro said on playing talented teams late in the season. "If you we don't win them all but we're still improving and playing well, that's what we need for the playoffs."

Amherst (7-3) will next host the Terriers on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

West Springfield 18, South Hadley 3 — Tuesday marked the Tigers’ fifth loss in a row, this one coming at the hands of a strong Terriers team that improved to 9-3 this spring.

South Hadley (2-9) hosts Agawam on Thursday hoping to snap its skid.

Girls lacrosse

Westfield 12, South Hadley 11 — Margo Watkins and Caitlin Dean scored a hat trick apiece for the Tigers, which lost by one in a thriller in South Hadley on Tuesday afternoon.

Raquel Losty (two), Kelcey Zraunig (two) and Hannah Haesaert (one) scored goals for South Hadley, while Riley Nestor collected nine saves in goal. Zraunig and Ava Asselin tallied assists in the loss.

Amherst 12, Chicopee Comp 3 — The ‘Canes won their ninth contest in a row, improving to 10-2 with a dominant victory over the Colts on Tuesday afternoon in Chicopee.

Amherst next travels to the Berkshires to take on Hoosac Valley on Thursday afternoon.

Boys volleyball

Frontier 3, Belchertown 1 — After a four-match skid, the Redhawks are back in the win column. 

Taking on Belchertown on the road in an Eastern League matchup, Frontier took the opening two sets before coming back to win the fourth to walk away with a 3-1 victory. 

Set scores were 25-16, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22. 

Nate Rivera and Tegan Dexter both put down 19 kills, Rivera adding two aces and 13 digs while Dexter came up with nine digs for Frontier. Tavo Vincent-Warner dished 39 assists to go along with two aces, Will Petrin tallied four kills and two aces while Evan Maio made 14 digs in the win.

Belchertown’s Gabriel Ibekilo and Noah Yankson put down 10 kills apiece while Shea MacLean added five, Colin Mullen (15) and Nicholas Ibekilo (11) facilitated things with 26 combined assists and Zach Dragon had four aces in the Orioles’ defeat.

Late Monday results

Girls lacrosse

Mount Greylock 16, South Hadley 7 — Ava Asselin (one goal, three assists) and Raquel Losty (two goals) each recorded multiple points, but the Tigers fell to the Mounties in the Berkshires on Monday evening.

Hannah Haeseart, Kelcey Zraunig, Caitlin Dean and Margo Watkins all scored one goal to round out South Hadley’s scoring, and Riley Nestor made seven saves in the cage.