Bates College

BABSON PARK, Mass. -- The No. 7 nationally ranked Bates field hockey team's terrific season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, as the Bobcats fell 1-0 in overtime to No. 2 Babson.

"It was so fun to coach our team this year," head coach Dani Kogut said. "These seniors will stay in my life forever, and that's really special beyond just the wins and losses." 

In a defensive battle, both teams recorded just four shots apiece. Junior Anna Lindeis (New Canaan, Conn.) tallied the lone shot on goal for the Bobcats (13-6) on Saturday while junior Anna Cote (Auburn, Maine) paced Bates with two shots.

Meanwhile, the Beavers (21-1) earned 12 penalty corners, but the Bobcat defense denied Babson every time, not just from scoring but from even getting a shot off on most of the chances. Unfortunately, Bates could not take advantage of any of their four penalty corners, although Lindeis ripped a shot off a corner that was denied by Babson keeper Bayla Furmanek in the 33rd minute.

In overtime, the Bobcats had a player-advantage for five minutes after Berit Sharrow received a yellow card. But they could not take advantage, and Sharrow came back into the game, assisting on the game-winning goal. Her feed into the circle went off the stick of Jackie Hill and rolled into the left side of the cage for the game-winning tally in the 68th minute of action.

The Bobcats finish the season having made history in a number of ways. This was their first appearance in the NCAA tournament, and their 13 wins are tied for the most in one season in program history. Bates won seven NESCAC games this year, their most ever, hosted and won their first NESCAC tournament game in dramatic fashion over rival Bowdoin, and earned their first win in the NCAA tournament with their first-round 7-0 home victory over Johnson & Wales. The No. 7 national ranking is also the highest in Bates field hockey history.