Sam Polito came up with his fourth shutout of the season in his last game as Bates' goalie, a 0-0 tie at Colby. (File photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College)
WATERVILLE, Maine -- Needing to win in order to reach postseason play, the Bates men's soccer team played to its third scoreless draw of the season Wednesday night at Colby.
The tie ends the Bobcats' exciting season with a 7-5-3 record, including a 2-5-3 mark in conference play, in ninth place and a point behind eighth-place Wesleyan (3-6-1 NESCAC). Bates' seven victories are the most by the program since the 9-6 2008 team. Their five losses are the team's fewest since the 9-4-2 squad from 2005.
Senior goalkeeper Sam Polito (Far Hills, N.J.) submitted an outstanding performance in his final collegiate game, registering four saves and breaking up several other scoring opportunities for the Mules. Seniors Sean Moyo (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe), Luis Pereira (Curitiba, Brazil) and captain Noah Riskind (Bethesda, Md.) also played in the final games of their outstanding careers.
Colby had a 7-2 edge in corner kicks and a 13-10 margin in shots.
The best scoring chance in overtime was in the final minute of the second extra period. Bates first-year forward Ben Lyons (San Rafael, Calif.) ripped a shot from the left side that barely went over the crossbar.
With 3:49 left in the second overtime period, the lights went out at Seaverns Field, leaving the chill, wet pitch in darkness with Colby in the middle of an attack. The game was delayed about 10 minutes before the stadium was again illuminated.
