Bates College

Senior Bates field hockey captain Grace Fitzgerald's terrific season continued with a goal in No. 16 Bates' 3-2 victory over No. 20 Amherst on Senior Day. She tied the game at one in the opening quarter and was involved in Bates' other two goals as well.

Bates tied the game in the 14th minute on a corner. First-year Paige Cote launched the ball toward the goal from the left side of the circle, and Fitzgerald, who had inserted to start the play, was in perfect position in front of the left post to redirect the shot past the Amherst keeper to make it 1-1 with 1:39 remaining in the first quarter.

With 6:58 to go in the third quarter, first-year Sarah Bussell evened the game for the Bobcats on an assist by sophomore Bridget Thompson. Fitzgerald started the play by intercepting a clearing ball 30 yards out, carrying the ball and passing to Thompson near the top of the circle. Thompson dived onto the turf to in order to push the ball to Bussell, who was left open in the middle of the circle. Bussell deftly dribbled around Amherst goalie Emilie Flamme and deposited the ball into the goal for the tying score.

Bates was awarded a penalty corner shortly after the game restarted. Fitzgerald inserted the ball to first-year Cote at the top. Cote scooped the ball airborne toward the goal, where senior captain Alexa Jurgeleit, boxing out Amherst defender Sophia Kaplan, got her stick on the ball and poked it past Flamme to give Bates its first lead at 3-2.