MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Host Wesleyan scored back-to-back goals four minutes apart in the first half to deal the Bates field hockey team a 2-0 defeat in a closely-contested NESCAC game on Saturday.

Blair Ingraham scored on a Taylor Wells assist in the game's 20th minute, her third goal tally of the season. Amber Bruckner added her third goal of the year at the 23:43 mark on a penalty corner play, on assists by Wells and Anna Howard.

The host Cardinals (2-3, 1-2 NESCAC) picked up their first NESCAC win, while Bates (1-4, 0-3 NESCAC) remained scoreless in conference competition over three games.

Bates outshot Wesleyan by an 11-10 margin in the game, but only put two attempts on goal -- one each by senior captain Sarah Warden (North Andover, Mass.) and junior Caroline Falcone (New Canaan, Conn.) -- for Cardinal keeper Sara Grundy to save. Both of those attempts took place in the game's opening six minutes, following senior captain Polly Merck's (Beverly Farms, Mass.) game-opening shot, which was blocked by a Wesleyan player.

Senior goalie Becca Otley (Cumberland, Maine) made six saves for Bates.

The Bobcats will play host to No. 8 nationally-ranked Bowdoin on Wednesday at 7pm, Bates' second straight home game against a NESCAC oponent ranked among the top 10 nationally.