MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Seeing its first conference action of the 2023 campaign, Bates College journeyed south to Wesleyan University Saturday as the Bobcats were grounded by the #11 Cardinals, 15-3, in the maiden NESCAC women's lacrosse match-up of the season for both programs.

Wesleyan (1-0, 1-0 NESCAC) wasted no time in its first outing of the year as the home team fired off nine unanswered goals to start the contest and never looked back.  The adversaries would alternate the next five successful scoring efforts to make it 11-3 Cardinals with 0:36 remaining in the third, but Wesleyan would seal the triumph by netting the final four tallies of the afternoon.

Nine different players would find the back of the net for the victors. Wesleyan's Olivia Lai led the way with a hat trick while teammate, Chessy Greenwald, topped all players with six assists and seven total points.

Caroline Taggart (So.-Concord, Mass.), Lauren Wong (Fy.-Walpole, Mass.), and Stella Stone (Sr.-Providence, R.I.) accounted for Bates' three goals. The Cardinals dominated with a shot margin of 37-9 while owning a shots-on-frame advantage of 26-8.

Wesleyan's Abby Wolk earned the win in net for the Cardinals with three saves (one goal allowed) over 33:42 of action. Cammie Lavoie (Epping, N.H.) recorded a game-high nine saves in 52:51 for the Bobcats.

Bates (1-2, 0-1 NESCAC) had its Sunday game at Saint Joseph's College postponed and is now scheduled to next see action Wednesday (5:00 p.m.) at Worcester State College.