Bates Bobcats Shutout Lancers, 4-0

LEWISTON, Maine – The Bates College's field hockey team opened up their season with a 4-0 victory over Worcester State Tuesday afternoon, as the Bobcats outshot the visiting Lancers by a 32-1 margin in the process. With the loss the Lancers fall to 0-2 on the season.

Bates took the early lead on the first shot attempt and first penalty corner of the season, in the game's sixth minute. Sophomore Adah Lindquist (Wayne, Pa.) fed the ball to sophomore teammate Jessie Moriarty (Springfield, Mass.), who slapped it home from the top of the circle into the left side of the cage, at mid-height. 

With 5:38 to go in the opening half, Bates struck again on a play initiated by Moriarty. The sophomore's shot from the left flank was stopped by lunging Worcester State goalie Kathryn Salemme (Acton, Mass.), but the ball caromed away to the right, where Bobcats junior midfielder Sydney Beres (New York, N.Y.) was there for the opportunistic goal, the second of her career.

Bates' dominating performance in the opening half resulted in a 16-0 edge in shots attempted and a 5-0 advantage in penalty corners.

First-year Isabel Garcia-Moreno (Baltimore, Md.) made it 3-0 with a goal in her collegiate debut in the 49th minute. Garcia-Moreno's initial shot from the front of the net was blocked, but she tracked down the long rebound and knocked in the follow-up attempt with a shot inside the far post from the right flat.

Garcia-Moreno started another scoring play in the 65th minute, to the benefit of classmate Alexandra Leahy (Cohasset, Mass.). Garcia-Moreno's breakaway shot was deflected by Salemme. Leahy, in hot pursuit along with a Worcester defender, was able to push the ball's momentum past Salemme's reach and into the cage for a 4-0 lead.

The Lancers' primary threat to score came in the opening minute of the second half, as they earned their lone penalty corner of the game. Meghan Pini's (Natick, Mass.) insertion was struck by Kayla Quinn (Sutton, Mass.), but the shot was blocked and cleared out of Bates' end.

Salemme finished with 10 saves. Bates sophomore Adelae Durand (Cumberland, R.I.) notched the victory in goal without making a save, and first-year Alyssa Souza (Scarborough, Maine) played a shutout second half with no saves.

The Lancers will resume play on Thursday (Sep. 8) when they will host Salve Regina in a 7:00 p.m. matchup. 

Release Courtesy of Bates Sports Information