BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Junior Jessie Gargiulo (Boxborough, Mass.) scored three goals, including the eventual game-winner with under two minutes to go in the first half, to lead nationally ranked Bates to a 5-1 victory over host Babson College in a non-conference women's soccer contest on Thursday afternoon.



The Bobcats, who entered the week ranked third in New England and 23rd in the country by the NSCAA, improved to 5-1-0 with the win, while Babson suffered its second consecutive defeat to fall to 6-3-0. Bates grabbed an early 1-0 lead when junior Kim Alexander (Cumberland, Maine) scored off a rebound of classmate Meg Coffin's shot at 8:21.

But Babson came right back. Junior Caitlin Cronin (Hanover, Mass.), at 14:24, one-timed a cross from first-year Kirsten Schmid (Babylon, N.Y.)to even the score at 1-1.

The contest would belong to the Bobcats from that point forward, as the visitors scored four goals in the final 47 minutes to run away with the win. Gargiulo put Bates in front for good with a breakaway goal at 43:02, and junior Mary Bucci (Norfolk, Mass.) made it 3-1 when she scored an unassisted goal at 56:16. Gargiulo completed the hat trick with a goal from Bucci at 57:21 and another from first-year Jen Marino (Methuen, Mass.) at 82:42, capping off the 5-1 final.

Sophomore Nini Spalding (San Francisco, Calif.) and first-year Caitlin Demko (South Windsor, Conn.) combined for four stops in goal for Bates. Marci McCormack (Wolcott, Conn.) finished with eight saves in net for Babson.

SCORING:

BATES - Kim Alexander (Meg Coffin) 8:21

BABSON - Caitlin Cronin (Kirsten Schmid) 14:24

BATES - Jessie Gargiulo (Amy Werblin) 43:02

BATES - Mary Bucci (unassisted) 56:16

BATES - Jessie Gargiulo (Mary Bucci) 57:21

BATES - Jessie Gargiulo (Jen Marino) 82:42



GOALIE SAVES: Bates, Nini Spalding 3 (76:00 mins 1 GA), Caitlin Demko 1

(14:00 mins 0 GA); Babson, Marci McCormack 8 (90 mins 5 GA)

SHOTS: Bates 18, Babson 10

CORNER KICKS: Bates 4, Babson 0

FOULS: Bates 5, Babson