WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. --The 10th-ranked Bates College men's lacrosse team responded to the opening goal of the game by host Williams College by ringing up five unanswered goals on their way to their eighth win of the year against no losses, 8-6 on Saturday.
Bates is now 4-0 in NESCAC. Williams (3-3, 1-2 NESCAC) saw its three-game win streak snapped with the loss.
Senior goalkeeper Paul Kazarian had 18 saves in net for the Bobcats, and sophomore attack Justin Simon tallied three goals, while senior David Pritchard added two scores with one assist.
At 6:08 of the first period the Ephs broke on top when Michael Vrla scored off a feed from Dixon Hargrove. Bates needed 4:07 to tie the game on a goal by Simon, assisted by Pritchard.
The game was tied at one at the end of the first 15-minute session, but it would not remain tied for long. At 14:01 of the second period Pritchard notched an unassisted tally that gave the Bobcats a lead they would not relinquish. Pritchard then set up Brenton Pitt for a goal and notched his second to make it 4-1 Bobcats. Amadi Cisse closed out the first half scoring with an unassisted goal with 2:09 left in the half.
Bates led 5-1 at the half.
The Ephs were able to stop the Bates goal spree at five with a capitalization opportunity completed by Dixon Hargrove. Bates got the next two goals, but the Ephs finished the third quarter with three unanswered scores by Andy Camposeo, Jamie Lee and Vrla.
Bates held a 7-5 lead at the end of three quarters and the Bobcats boosted that to 8-5 on a goal by Simon. Mike Medeiros was credited with the assist.
A Nick Fersen tally with just 2:13 to play made the score 8-6 and the Ephs followed that goal up by winning the faceoff and getting off two close shots on Kazarian that he was able to save to preserve the Bobcats' eighth win of the year.
Bates next plays at Colby College on April 5.
WILLIAMS – SCORING (G – A): Michael Vrla 2g, Dixon Hargrove 1g – 2a, Andy Camposeo 1g, Jamie Lee 1g Nick Fersen 1g and Tim White 1a.
WILLIAMS GOALIE INFO: MIN/SAVES/GOALS: Rob Hawkins -- 60:00/18/8
BATES SCORING: (G-A): Justin Simon 3g, David Pritchard 2g-1a, Brenton Pitt 1g, Amadi Cisse 1g, Brent Morin 1g and Mike Medeiros 1a.
BATES GOALIE INFO: MIN/SAVES/GOALS – Paul Kazarian – 60:00/19/6
