LEWISTON, Maine -- The No. 15 nationally ranked Bates field hockey team struck first, but No. 7 Babson scored four unanswered goals, two on penalty strokes, to defeat the Bobcats 4-2 Wednesday night at Campus Ave. Field.

The Bobcats (3-1) got on the board in the 10th minute. Sophomore Anna Cote (Auburn, Maine) took a pass at midfield and raced through the Babson defense. Her shot on goal from the left side of the cage initially appeared to have been stopped by a Babson defender, but the official ruled the ball crossed the line and Bates had a 1-0 lead. It's Cote's team-leading fourth goal of the season. 

The Beavers (3-1) answered in the 13th minute. They earned a penalty corner and Alex Michelotti dumped the ball in front of the cage. Jessica Evans was waiting, and she was able to get a stick on it, tapping the ball past the Bates keeper for the equalizer. 

With the score tied at one in the 17th minute, the Beavers earned their first penalty stroke of the night. Meara Hanyon had the honor of taking the shot and she ripped one top shelf. First-year goalkeeper Kaili Jacobsen (Fairfield, Conn.) did a good job getting a piece of the ball, but it kept going into the cage for the go-ahead tally. 

Just over a minute later, the visitors added to their lead. Isabelle Fournier inserted a penalty corner and was rewarded when Brianne McGrath fired a shot from the right side of the cage toward the left corner. Fournier was waiting for it and she tipped the ball in for a 3-1 Babson advantage. 

The Beavers led 3-1 at halftime and went up 4-1 in the 44th minute when Hanyon converted her second penalty stroke of the evening.

Bates refused to back down though, as the Bobcats got one back in the 50th minute. On a penalty corner opportunity, junior captain Paige Cote (Auburn, Maine) fired a shot from the top of the circle. Junior Kami Lambert (Augusta, Maine) tipped the ball past the Babson keeper, trimming the Beaver edge to 4-2. It marked Lambert's second goal of the season and Cote's team-leading fourth assist.

Statistically, the game proved to be an even contest, with both teams tallying 14 shots. The Bobcats earned nine penalty corners, but only converted one for a goal. Babson made the most of five penalty corners, scoring two goals. But it was the two penalty stroke goals that proved to be the difference. 

Bayla Furmanek made six saves between the pipes for Babson. Jacobsen played the first 30 minutes and made one save. Senior Grace Biddle (State College, Pa.) played the final 30 minutes and made two saves. Junior Molly Harmon (Farmington, Maine) and sophomore Amanda Zerbib (Larchmont, N.Y.) each recorded a defensive save for Bates.

The Bobcats are back in action this Saturday when they visit No. 8 nationally ranked Williams for their second NESCAC game of the season. The contest is set to begin at 12pm.