By: Tom Maguire, Beat Writer Bates Women’s Lacrosse
Lacrosse is Awesome
The 13th ranked Bates Bobcats held off the 12th ranked surging Hamilton Continentals 8-7 in another tightly contested NESCAC match in Lewiston ME. The Bobcats overall record stands at 9-1 (4-1 NESCAC) making this the best start for the women’s lacrosse program in 24 seasons. Hamilton moves to 6-3 (2-3 NESCAC).
Hamilton started the game strong and built a 3-1 lead in the first thirteen minutes of the game, but Bobcats clawed back with three scores in the next four minutes to take the 4-3 lead. The two teams traded goals to end the half with Bates holding a slim 5-4 lead. Bates potted three more goals in the first eight minutes of the second half to take an 8-4 lead. Hamilton pushed back with two scores in four minutes to cut the lead to two. Both teams battled for the next thirteen minutes until Hamilton closed the gap to 8-7 with just under six minutes to go, but that would be the final score despite furious attacks from both sides until the final horn blew.
Hamilton first year Kara Pooley (Wexford PA) opened the scoring at 28:17 with an unassisted left corner shot while cutting right. Four minutes later, Hamilton capitalized again on their fast start with sophomore Darby Philbrick (Alexandria VA) with an unassisted effort splitting the Bates defense. Top NESCAC scorer senior Moriah Greenstein (Glenmont NY) gave the Bobcats a much needed score at 21:13 with an unassisted curl and shot just inside the right post. Hamilton countered as Philbrick posted her second goal on another unassisted one-on-one effort top right corner.
After a time out, the Bobcats utilized State of Maine teamwork to cut the deficit to one as sophomore Teal Otley (Cumberland ME) received a beautiful behind the net sky pass from junior Drew Barry (Portland ME) and put away a one timer at 15:29. Bates enjoyed back-to-back goals from first year Sydney Howard (Ashland MA) to take the 4-3 lead. At 14:18 Howard received a high pass from junior Sydney Cowles (Wayne PA) who buried the shot on the short side. Howard showed extra effort less than a minute later as she scooped a shot into the net from a large scrum to the right of the goal after a great point blank save by first year Hamilton goalie Hannah Burrall (Geneva NY).
Top Hamilton scorer junior Morgan Fletcher (Wayland MA) knotted the game 27 seconds later on an unassisted one-on-one isolation inside the right post. Bates took a 5-4 lead as Otley posted her second goal of the game at 10:45 on a right side free position shot at 10:45. The last ten minutes of the half featured beautiful team defense on both ends and great goaltending from both of these top ranked teams.
Sophomore Camille Belletete (Jaffrey NH) opened the second half with an unassisted put back goal on a rebound at 27:34. Howard achieved her hat trick at 22:56 with an athletic right-left-right weave through the Hamilton defense to put Bates up 7-4. Alison Dewey posted what would end up being the game winning goal at 22:01 on a nice pass from Howard to put Bates up 8-4. The Hamilton defense shut down the Bates offense for the rest of the game as the Continentals mounted an aggressive offensive attack for the final 22 minutes.
Hamilton senior Caroline McCarthy (Belmont MA) broke the 22 minute scoring drought for Hamilton as she scored unassisted from the right side at 20:17 and notched a helper two minutes later as she fed senior Margaret Gabriel (Washington DC) from behind the net to close the gap to two goals.
A tense thirteen minutes of back and forth action ensued until Pooley picked up her second goal of the contest at 5:42 on a quick one timer after receiving a pass in stride from Gabriel to bring Hamilton.
In the furious five minute finish, senior Cara Cappelini (Manhasset NY) made two key take-aways and Bates goalie Jeffery made two clutch free position saves including one under a minute to go to preserve the 8-7 victory for Bates.
On Wednesday April 6, Bates travels to Bowdoin and Hamilton visits Middlebury for a mid-week NESCAC contests.
Bobcat Tracks:
Defender Cara Cappelini led Bobcats with 4 caused turnovers.
Middies Camille Belletete and Kaileigh Maguire each had four draw controls, as Bates had an 11-6 DC advantage.
Goalie Hannah Jeffrey was stout with seven for seven stops on Hamilton free position shots. Jeffrey posts a 65% save percentage this year.
Bates maintains a 5.0 goals-against average in 5 NESCAC contests with a 5.3 GAA overall in 10 games.
Tom Maguire, Beat Writer Bates College
Lacrosse is Awesome