Bates College

Junior Jack Strain recorded nine goals and five ground balls last week to help lead men’s lacrosse to a 2-0 mark and to earn Bobcat of the Week honors for the week of March 24-30.

On Saturday, the third-year attack netted a season and game-high five goals to propel the Bobcats to their first NESCAC win of the season – an 11-4 triumph at Hamilton. He also scooped up four ground balls, second on the team on the day.

A native of Montclair, N.J., Strain scored twice to push Bates’ lead to 4-1 early in the second quarter and tallied three goals during the team’s 6-0 second-half run which put the Bobcats up 11-3.

That performance came on the heels of a four-goal effort in a 12-9 win over Keene State on Wednesday. The Montclair-Kimberly product notched a pair of goals as part of a 5-1 spurt during the second half which gave Bates a 12-7 edge.

On the season, Strain ranks second on the team in goals (16) and points (20).

Strain and the Bobcats return to action with a home game against No. 20 Bowdoin on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Middlebury on Saturday for a 1 p.m. faceoff.