LEWISTON, Maine -- First-year Rex Lane found the back of the net and junior Ryan Manning made a huge save on a penalty kick to lead the Bates men's soccer team past the Hamilton Continentals by a final score of 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Russell Street Field. 

• Ryan Manning post-match interview on Instagram Live

Lane (Orlando, Fla.) followed up his hat trick in his collegiate debut against Maine Maritime with the eventual game-winning goal in the first NESCAC match of his career. 

In the 52nd minute, junior Bobby Dall (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) won a battle for the ball on the near sideline close to midfield. He dribbled the ball for a few paces and passed it ahead to team captain Alec Szwarcewicz (Newton, Mass.). Szwarcewicz beat one defender for possession and played it through to the far side for Lane.

Lane took two steps then directed the ball with his left foot to the lower left corner of the net for his fourth goal of the young season.

The 1-0 lead for Bates (2-0-0, 1-0-0 NESCAC) held up thanks to multiple outstanding plays from Manning (Belchertown, Mass.), who made five saves between the pipes for Bates, all in the second half. 

In the 71st minute, the Continentals (1-1-0, 0-1-0 NESCAC) nearly got the equalizer, twice. First, Manning denied a header attempt from Hamilton's Pandelis Margaronis at the back post. The ball stayed loose and another header went up in the air, causing a scramble for the ball. Bates got called for a foul in the box, setting up a penalty kick for the Continentals. 

Spencer Royal tried to trick Manning by looking left and shooting to the right on the penalty kick. But it was to no avail for Hamilton. Manning guessed correctly and made the biggest save of the match. The crowd at Russell Street Field and the Bates bench both erupted in celebration. 

After that, Hamilton only recorded one more shot on goal, as the Bates defense locked them down for the remainder of the match. 

The Continentals tallied nine shots (five on goal), while Bates finished with five shots (four on goal). Royal and Thomas Kantrowitz led the Hamilton attack with two shots each. Ben Ziegler recorded three saves for Hamilton. 

It's the first time the Bobcats have opened the season with back-to-back shutout wins since 2015. They visit the University of New England (1-3) Monday for a 7pm non-conference match.