HARTFORD, Conn. -- The No. 16 nationally ranked Bates women's lacrosse team was finally dealt its first loss of the season Saturday, but not before giving third-ranked host Trinity College all it could handle in a 6-5 decision.

Bates' (6-1, 2-1 NESCAC) top-10 nationally ranked defense, which entered the game allowing opponents only 5.0 goals per game, locked down the Bantams for their season-tying lowest output of the season, matching Trinity's lone loss, 9-6 to Salisbury. 

But Bates too was limited to its lowest output of the season, by a three-goal margin. Trinity's (6-1, 3-0 NESCAC) defense came up with several key stops late to preserve its one-goal lead.

The first-half scoring came in waves of three. Trinity jumped out to a 3-0 lead before allowing three unanswered goals by the Bobcats to tie the game as the teams entered the half. 

Kiley Coffey broke the scoreless game just under eight minutes in with a free-position goal for the Bantams. Less than a minute later, Clare Lyne netted her first of three goals as she cut in front of the net and received a slick pass from Emma Malicki that she fired past Bobcat senior goalie Hannah Jeffrey (Greenwich, Conn.). Lyne assisted Olivia Johnson's goal at the 16:44 mark that put the Bantams up 3-0 before Bates chipped away at the lead. 

Two goals by Bates senior Moriah Greenstein (Glenmont, N.Y.) sandwiched around a free-position goal by junior Drew Barry (Portland, Maine) sent the game into the half knotted at three.

Bates struck first in the second half on an unassisted goal from senior Alex Briody (North Kingstown, R.I.) that gave the Bobcats their first lead of the afternoon. Trinity's Karly Simpson answered six minutes later before another goal from Lyne three minutes later gave the Bantams back the lead, 5-4. 

With 11:45 to play, Greenstein tallied her third goal of the game to tie things back up at 5-5.

Trinity's defense, led by Ashley Stewart and Lara Guida, held stout for the remaining 11 minutes of play to keep Bates from scoring again. Lyne found the back of the net for the game-winning goal at the 8:27 mark on a free-position shot that she rifled past Jeffrey.

Greenstein finished with three goals, while Barry and Briody had one apiece.

Jeffrey made 10 saves in back of Bates' excellent defense, featuring junior Erin Shea (Canton, Mass.) and seniors Mikaela Bradley (Ridgewood, N.J.), Cara Cappellini (Manhasset, N.Y.) and Kara Le (Richboro, Pa.). Sophomore midfielder Allison Dewey (Vergennes, Vt.) caused two Trinity turnovers and sophomore midfielder Camille Belletete (Jaffrey, N.H.) had two draw controls. Junior midfielder Kaileigh Maguire (Sudbury, Mass.) contributed two ground balls, a draw control and a caused turnover.

Trinity's Stewart won three draws to go along with a caused turnover and ground ball while Guida led Trinity with four ground balls. Emily Mooney earned the win in net for the Bantams, making two saves in 30 minutes of action. Zoe Ferguson started in net for Trinity and tallied four stops in the first 30 minutes.

Bates next plays at NESCAC rival Williams Saturday, March 26 at noon.