LEWISTON, Maine – Junior defender Becky Macdonald's (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) goal with 8:08 remaining broke a 1-1 tie as the Bates College women's soccer team defeated visiting Husson College 3-1 Sunday afternoon at Russell Street Field.



Macdonald broke up a clearing attempt by a Husson defender, pivoted near the corner of the penalty box and guided her shot inside the near post to give the Bobcats (6-2) the lead for good. It was Macdonald's second goal of the season.



Junior forward Kim Alexander (Cumberland, Maine/Greely), reigning NESCAC Player of the Week, made it 3-1 with 52 seconds left in the game, converting a cross off her chest from first-year teammate Julie Brown (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) for her team-high eighth goal of the year.



"This was a scary game," Bates head coach Jim Murphy '69 said. "I thought we did a terrific job dominating the ball, yet it was still 1-1 with less than 10 minutes to play." The team "really sucked it up," Murphy added, to rebound from Saturday's double-overtime loss to Tufts University.



Crisp passing and good teamwork in the first half finally paid off for Bates with first-year forward Jen Marino (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) scoring with 10:40 left in the half. First-year forward Amy Werblin (Huntington Beach, Calif.) initiated the play by splitting two defenders with a nifty through pass to junior Mary Bucci (Norfolk, Mass./Bishop Feehan) in the right corner. Bucci crossed to Marino, who finished off the play with a headball past Husson goalie Leah Drew (Caribou, Maine). 



But the visiting Eagles (5-6) evened the game early in the second half, as junior Meredith Homer (Charlton, Mass.) knocked home junior teammate Elissa Gordon's (Bucksport, Maine) corner kick.



Drew made nine saves for Husson, as Bates outshot the visitors 30-5. Nini Spalding had three saves for the Bobcats.



Bates next plays at NESCAC opponent Williams College Saturday at 11 a.m.



HUSSON -- 0 1 - 1

BATES -- 1 2 - 3



SCORING:

BATES – Jen Marino (Mary Bucci) 34:20

HUSSON – Meredith Homer (Elissa Gordon) 56:15

BATES – Becky Macdonald (unassisted) 81:52

BATES – Kim Alexander (Julie Brown) 89:06



GOALIE SAVES – Husson, Leah Drew 9 (90 minutes, 3 GA); Bates, Nini Spalding 3 (90 minutes, 1 GA)

SHOTS: Husson 5, Bates 30

CORNER KICKS:  Husson 1, Bates 4

FOULS: Husson 4, Bates 3