LEWISTON, Maine -- The visiting No. 3 nationally ranked Colby College Mules started fast and finished strong, spoiling the Bates women's lacrosse team's senior night by defeating the Bobcats 18-5 Wednesday at Garcelon Field.

Bates (3-10, 1-9 NESCAC) fell behind 8-0 to the Mules (13-2, 9-1 NESCAC) before rallying in the second quarter. 

Senior captain Dana Swartz (North Andover, Mass.) got the Bobcats on the board with 7:28 left in the half. She followed that with two more goals, netting a hat trick for Bates. Then senior Kate Loughlin (York, Maine) trimmed the deficit to 8-4 with 3:55 remaining. 

Annie Eddy answered for Colby before Loughlin took advantage of a player-up opportunity on a free-position goal with 31 seconds left, getting Bates to within four at 9-5 at the half. 

But the Mules blanked the Bobcats in the second half, running away with three goals in the third quarter and six goals in the fourth quarter.

Eddy led all players with eight goals while Gianna Bruno tallied five goals and three assists for the visitors. The Mules recorded 37 shots to Bates' 18. 

Before the game, the Bobcats honored their four seniors: Team captain Anna Reaman (Hingham, Mass.), Jordyn Tveter (Topsfield, Mass.), Swartz, and Loughlin. Reaman caused a turnover and recorded two ground balls. Tveter won four draw controls and recorded a ground ball. Swartz finished with a team-high three goals to go along with two ground balls. Loughlin tallied two goals on two shots.

Wednesday's game concludes the 2022 season for the Bates women's lacrosse team.