BRISTOL, R.I. -- Junior Charlie Fay scored three goals in less than two minutes of the third quarter to finish off an 8-0 run, as the No. 11 nationally ranked Bates men's lacrosse team pulled away for a 12-8 non-conference victory at Roger Williams University on Saturday.

Fay (Falmouth, Mass.), who tied his career high with five goals, netted back-to-back outside shots on assists from junior Jake Walsh (Baltimore, Md.) at the 5:30 and 4:26 marks of the third quarter. With 3:48 to go he scored on a leaping drive as the Bobcats (2-0) opened up an 11-5 lead. 

Bates trailed 5-3 with 12:49 to go in the second quarter, but the Bobcats shut out the Hawks (0-1) over the next 30 minutes of game time. Sophomore Max Breschi (Carlisle, Pa.) scored back-to-back goals in the final minute of the second quarter to tie the game and move Bates into its first lead at 6-5.

The Bobcats outscored the Hawks 5-0 in the third quarter, as senior Charlie Hildebrand (Berwyn, Pa.) and junior Andrew Melvin (Medfield, Mass.) both tallied their second goals of the game at the 8:59 and 7:49 marks before Fay put the game nearly out of reach with his outburst later in the period.

RWU's Nick Gagnon scored a man-up goal with 12:14 left in the fourth quarter, but Bates ended a nine-minute scoreless stretch with a man-up goal by Fay, assisted by junior Kyle Weber (Chagrin Falls, Ohio, to make it 12-6 with 3:25 left. Roger Williams scored goals at 3:02 and 2:13 of the fourth to close the final difference to four goals.

Weber had a goal and two assists for Bates. Walsh collected three assists and senior Jack Allard (Ridgewood, N.J.) added two assists and four ground balls. Breschi, Hildebrand and Melvin scored two goals apiece.

Junior Sam Francis (Newburyport, Mass.) dominated faceoffs, winning 17 of 22, while senior goalkeeper Joe Faria (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) recorded 10 saves.

Seniors Colby Spehler (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) and Ken O'Friel (Scarsdale, N.Y.) tied for the team-high with five ground balls apiece and junior Fred Ulbrick (Fairfield, Conn.) caused two turnovers.

Gagnon led Roger williams with three goals and one assist. Goalies Connor Carroll (10 saves) and Weston Nolan (2 saves) split goal time evenly and allowed six goals apiece.

The Bobcats move on to start NESCAC play next Saturday, March 5 at Wesleyan, with game time at 1pm.