WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Bates field hockey team played No. 14 nationally ranked Babson evenly overall, but the host Beavers downed the Bobcats 3-1 with a second-quarter scoring outburst.
Jessica Evans scored twice in the second quarter to help Babson (6-1) defeat visiting Bates (3-3) for the second straight meeting. Senior
Bridget Thompson (Newtown, Pa.) scored for Bates.
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Lauren Curley had a goal and Quinn Greer, Brianne McGrath and Camille Marsh each chipped in with an assist for the Beavers. Cassidy Riley finished with eight saves in the victory.
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The Bobcats got six saves from junior goalkeeper
Grace Biddle (State College, Pa.).
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All of the scoring happened in a span of just over 10 minutes in the second quarter, beginning when Evans notched her first goal 1:19 into the stanza after Greer carried the ball along the end line before feeding it in front to put the Green and White ahead 1-0. Thompson tied the game exactly 60 seconds later when she tracked down the rebound of a shot by senior
Emily Gianunzio (Darien, Conn.) and blasted it through traffic and inside the left post for her second marker of the year.
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Babson went back in front just over two minutes later on Curley's second goal of the year. After starting the penalty corner she was at the left post behind the defense to tip-in McGrath's shot from the top of the circle. The Beavers added to their lead with 3:12 to go in the quarter as Marsh carried the ball into the circle and put a hard shot on net that was redirected past Biddle by Evans for her third tally of the season.
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Riley reacted quickly to deny Gianunzio's redirection attempt with 2:48 to go in the third quarter and then stopped four more shots in the fourth to help Babson maintain its advantage. She stopped Gianunzio's blast from the top of the circle with a kick save and then pushed away a rebound attempt by Thompson less than a minute into the period.
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Both teams finished with 15 total shots and nine on goal, and the Beavers held a slim 11-9 edge in penalty corners.
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Bates takes on Thomas at home on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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