LEWISTON, Maine -- Four different Mammoths found the back of the cage and the No. 11 nationally ranked Bates field hockey team fell 5-0 to No. 12 Amherst Saturday at Campus Ave. Field. 

It's the first loss for the Bobcats (4-2, 2-1 NESCAC) in conference play this season. The Mammoths (4-2, 1-2 NESCAC) earned their first conference win of the year. 

Amherst opened the scoring in the third minute when Abbey Kays fired a shot on goal that first-year Kaili Jacobsen (Fairfield, Conn.) saved. But the deflection went right to Amherst's Kat Mason at the top of the shooting circle and she tallied the first goal of the day. She added another one in the fourth quarter right after a Kays shot hit the post. 

The Mammoths added to their lead in the eighth minute on a penalty stroke goal from Beth Williamson. 

Then in the second quarter, Natalie Hobbs sparked the visitors with a pair of assists, finding Muffie Mazambani for a goal in the 23rd minute and Jackie D'Alleva for a tally in the 25th minute. Both times, Hobbs ripped a shot on goal and it got tipped in by a teammate. 

The Bobcats were out-shot 13-7 in the contest, with only two shots on goal for the hosts compared to eight for the visitors.

Bates won the penalty corner battle by a count of 8-3 but could not convert on any attempts. Sophomore Anna Cote (Auburn, Maine) led the Bobcats with four shots, including one on goal. Sara Nidus made two saves for Amherst in the cage and senior Grace Biddle (State College, Pa.) made two saves in 45 minutes off the bench for Bates. 

The Bobcats are back in action Sunday morning when they host No. 1 nationally ranked and defending NCAA champion Middlebury at 11am.