Katie Nickerson '08

Caroline Thomas '09

Molly Wagner '08

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates College women's lacrosse team scored a 12-11 victory over Tufts University Saturday at Campus Avenue Field, holding off a late Jumbos rally thanks to a pair of Katie Nickerson saves on eight-meter shots in the final minute.

Bates improved its record to 8-5 overall and 2-4 in the NESCAC. Tufts fell to 6-6 overall and 2-5 in the NESCAC.

Bates first-year Molly Radis (Yarmouth, Maine) scored three goals for the Bobcats. Junior Molly Wagner (Longmeadow, Mass.) and sophomore Caroline Thomas (Barrington, R.I.) both scored twice and assisted on two goals apiece. Junior Rachel Harmeling (North Reading, Mass.) and first-year Morgan Maciewicz (Marblehead, Mass.) added a goal and an assist apiece.

Tufts sophomore Chrissie Attura (Yarmouth, Maine) scored three goals, while sophomore Maya shoham (West Hartford, Conn.) and sophomore Courtney Thomas (Needham, Mass.) added two apiece. Junior Sarah Williams (Bethesda, Md.) had three assists for the Jumbos.

Bates got out to a 6-3 lead at the half, outscoring Tufts 5-1 over the final 25 minutes of the period. The Jumbos spotted the Bobcats another goal in the opening minute of the second half, but then mounted a comeback. They scored five of the next six goals in the game to close the gap to tie the game at 8-8, with No. 1 capping the comeback with the last two goals.

Bates responded with a 3-0 run on goals by Radis, Maciewicz and junior Rachel Greenwood (Williamstown, Mass.). But the Bobcats allowed an own goal with 4:47 left in the game to reduce Tufts' deficit to 11-9.

Bates first-year Avery Masters (Mill Valley, Calif.) scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal on an assist by first-year Katelyn Drake (Hudson, Ohio) with 2:31 left to play, giving Bates a 12-9 lead. The Jumbos put on tremendous offensive pressure in the final two minutes, scoring unassisted goals by 5 and 12, with 1:52 and 1:33 remaining. But the Bobcats clung to the 12-11 lead as Nickerson turned away free-position shots by 1 and 6 in the final minute.

Nickerson (Windham, N.H.) made 10 saves in all, while Tufts sophomore goalie Gillian Kline stopped six shots.

Bates plays at Bowdoin on Tuesday at 7 p.m.; Tufts hosts Amherst Tuesday at 4:30.

STATS: Bates 12, Tufts 11