Peabo Knoth scored his team-high third goal this season in Bates' 4-1 loss to Bowdoin on Oct. 6, 2013. File photo by Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bowdoin defeated Bates 4-1 in a NESCAC men's soccer game on Sunday at Russell Street Field, with goals from four different players.

Bowdoin broke the scoreless tie in the 18th minute on its first and best goal of the contest. Thomas Henshall tapped the ball from the right side of the Bates penalty area over to Connor Keefe, who faked one way before tapping over again to Kiefer Solarte, who was able to tee up an open 15-yard shot into the net.

The goal came three minutes after Bates goalie Joe Maffly-Kipp (Chapel Hill, N.C.) made a diving save of a clear shot by Bowdoin's Andrew Jones, headed for the top right corner of the goal.

Bowdoin made it 2-0 before the end of the half, as Matt Dias Costa set up Cedric Charlier's open shot from the top of the box. 

Zach Danssaert kept up the pressure on Bates' goal in the second half, sending one attempt wide, then nearly scoring but for another diving save by Maffly-Kipp in the 66th minute. Maffly-Kipp was unable to control the ball, however, and Austin Downing was there on the rebound for an easy putaway.

After the Polar Bears forced Maffly-Kipp into back-to-back saves and attempted three corner kicks in a row, Bates closed the gap to two on its first and only shot on goal of the game. First-year forward Peabo Knoth (Portland, Maine) patiently lofted a long ball into the face of Bowdoin's goal. Bates senior Tyler Grees (Williamstown, Mass.) leaped for the header but the ball sailed just over his reach and dropped into the left-side netting of the Polar Bear goal, closing the score to 3-1. Knoth has now scored three of Bates' four goals this season, and assisted on the other.

Bowdoin added one more score in the 81st minute to make it 4-1. Danssaert again operated from inside the penalty box and left a ball out in the flat for an open shot for Jones, who converted from the left side of the box.

Maffly-Kipp made seven saves for the Bobcats; Bowdoin goalie Noah Safian recorded none.

The Polar Bears (3-2-3, 1-2-2 NESCAC) are unbeaten in their past five games. They will host Hamilton on Saturday, Oct. 12 at noon. Bates' (1-5-2, 0-5-2 NESCAC) next contest is a non-conference home night game against Thomas on Wednesday at 8pm.