Helena Turner '10

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates College field hockey team suffered a tough 2-0 loss against conference opponent Tufts University on Saturday at Campus Avenue Field. Tufts senior forward Ileana Casellas-Katz (Denmark, Maine) and first-year forward Tamara Brown (Annandale, Va.) each scored a goal in the first half for the Jumbos.

The Bobcats (4-3-1, 2-3 NESCAC) started strong and did not allow the Jumbos to cross the fifty yard line into Bates' defensive end for the first eight minutes. Bates' offensive pressure earned them two quick corners, but Tufts defense came up with two tremendous defensive saves to keep the game scoreless. The Bobcats had the edge in penalty corners in the first half 6-1, while Tufts held the overall advantage 10-7.

Tufts (4-2, 3-1 NESCAC) finally broke through 11 minutes into the first half, when Casellas-Katz recorded her team-high seventh goal of the season off of a penalty corner. With 10 minutes left in the half, Tufts received an insurance goal from Brown off an assist from first-year midfielder Jess Perkins (Barrington, R.I.) to put the Jumbos up 2-0.

While Bates' energy seemed to fade in the middle of the first half, the Bobcats ended the half as strongly as they began it by earning two penalty corners with no time left. However, Bates was unable to convert on the corners. Tufts barely out-shot Bates in the first half, managing 11 shots on goal to Bates' 10. Tufts out-shot Bates 23-14 for the game.

The Bates defense held Tufts scoreless in the second half, but could not convert any goals of their own to close the gap. Tufts first-year goaltender Katie Hyder (Winston-Salem, N.C.) recorded four saves in the shutout, while Bates received nine saves from sophomore goaltender Helena Turner (Manchester, Mass.).

The Bobcats host Husson College in non-league action on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Tufts also plays a non-conference game at Gordon College on Thursday at 4.

BOX SCORE: Tufts 2, Bates 0