By: Tom Maguire, Bates College Women’s Lacrosse
Lacrosse is Awesome
The No. 2 nationally ranked Middlebury Panthers (10-0, 6-0 NESCAC) defeated the No. 9 Bates Bobcats (10-2, 5-2 NESCAC) 12-5 in Lewiston ME Saturday April 9. The Middlebury Panthers started fast running out to a 5-0 lead thanks to a high pressure defense which caused multiple turnovers by the Bates offense. Bates scored a pair of goals to bring the score to 5-2 in the first half but Middlebury put a late goal towards the end of the period to make it 6-2 at the intermission. The second half unfolded similar to the first half as Middlebury reeled off 6 unanswered goals before Bates responded with three goals to make the final score 12-5.
Middlebury held a 24-14 advantage in turnovers which provided a significant offensive zone time advantage for the Panthers and prevented the Bobcats from gaining any momentum.
Middlebury opened the scoring at 28:03 as senior Lauren Pascal (Greenwich, CT) picked up a loose ball in the crease and put it away. Five minutes later, Pascal scored again on a free position shot. Middlebury increased the lead to 3-0 less than a minute later as senior Megan Griffin (Sudbury, MA) threaded the needle short side just inside the left post. At 20:20, sophomore Claire Russell (Hingham, MA) picked the top corner on a feed from Griffin. Middlebury finished their five goal outburst at 14:54 when senior Bridgit Instrum (Granby, MA) scored a fast break goal assisted by senior Allie Sciarretta (Wilton, CT) as the Bobcats were down two players on penalty calls.
Moriah Greenstein (Glenmont, NY) put the Bobcats on the board at 14:05 with a free position shot and they scored again at 9:25 to make it 5-2 as junior Sydney Cowles (Wayne, PA) picked up a loose ball and buried her first of three goals on the day. Middlebury closed out the half with 2:28 remaining to make the score 6-2 as junior Mary O’Connell (Norwell MA) picked the top right corner as she moved left to right across the crease.
Senior Chrissy Ritter (Middlebury, VT) increased the Panther lead to 7-2 at 27:43 of the second half picking the top corner short side just inside the post on an isolation play. Less than a minute later Instrum made it 8-2 as she dodged one defender and scored an unassisted goal. Another free position shot by Middlebury made the score 9-2 as Sciarretta scored at 22:01. Sciarretta scored again 12 seconds later on a 2 on 1 breakout on a pass from O’Connell. Griffin made the score 11-2 at 18:32 on a smooth dodge on an isolated Bates defender. Pascal closed out the six goal outburst by the Panthers at 17:45 top corner cutting right to left.
Joanie Oates gave the Bobcats fans something to cheer about at 7:54 with an assist from Greenstein. At 4:17, Oates completed the hat-trick with a sharp low shot on a pass from sophomore Alison Dewey (Vergennes VT). With 1:34 remaining in the game, sophomore Camille Belletete (Jaffrey NH) ripped a rocket shot from the center assisted by Oates to complete the scoring for the day at 12-5.
Bates travels to take on the Tufts Jumbos on April 19 while the Middlebury Panthers host the Trinity Bantams April 16 in two important NESCAC league matchups.
Bobcat Tracks:
Bates goalie Hannah Jeffrey allowed only 2 goals on 11 Middlebury free position shots.
Bates was 1-7 on free positions.
Bates held a 13-6 draw control advantage with Belletete (5) and Dewey (4) and Cowles (2) leading the team.
Middlebury held a 26-15 ground ball advantage.
Tom Maguire, Beat Writer Bates College
Lacrosse is Awesome