Emily Sampson '09

AMHERST, Mass. -- Sophomore forward Emily Sampson (Plymouth, N.H.) netted her second goal of the game halfway through the second overtime period, giving the Bates College field hockey team a 3-2 victory at Amherst College on Saturday.

Bates (3-0, 1-0 NESCAC) came back from a 2-0 deficit against the Jeffs (1-2, 0-2 NESCAC).

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Sprague (Cleveland, Ohio) made a spectacular save in the first overtime period to keep the outcome in doubt, stopping a breakaway by sliding and kicking the ball out of bounds. Sprague recorded 12 saves in the game, including five in the first overtime period.

Junior Lindsey Ferguson (Barrington, R.I.) scored the Bobcats' first goal with 19:43 left in the second half. Sampson evened the game at 2-2 with 5:04 left in regulation with an unassisted goal.

Sampson finished off the stunning comeback by converting a rebound of a shot by senior teammate Carolyn King (Hanover, Mass.).

The Jeffs looked strong in the first half, controlling the pace of play and dominating the ball. With 20:30 to go in the half first-year Haley Douds (South Orange, N.J.) found the net off a nifty pass in traffic, from junior forward Christa Porcaro (Pelham, N.Y.), giving Amherst the early 1-0 lead.  Douds notched her second score of the game a mere four minutes later, this time on a one timer off a corner ball. These were Douds' first two goals of the season.

The Bobcats took a while to get better accustomed to Amherst's natural grass field. "We got a lot stronger as the game went on, and our depth gave us some fresh legs, which really helped us toward the end of the game," said Bates head coach Wynn Hohlt.

Bates returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 23 at home against Connecticut College.

BOX SCORE: Bates 3, Amherst 2