LEWISTON, Maine -- DJ Dixon and Justin Hazard scored four goals apiece and the visiting No. 13 nationally ranked Wesleyan University Cardinals spoiled the Bates men's lacrosse team's home opener, defeating the Bobcats 24-5 Sunday afternoon at Garcelon Field. 

Five different players scored for the Bobcats (0-2, 0-1 NESCAC) in the loss. Bates kept it close with the Cardinals (1-0, 1-0 NESCAC) early, with sophomore Cooper Lance (San Diego, Calif.) tying the game at one on an unassisted tally with 12:15 left in the first quarter. 

The Bobcats fell behind 4-1 before they took advantage of a man-up opportunity when senior Will Schinabeck (Shaker Heights, Ohio) scored on an assist from first-year Brian Hart (Atlanta, Ga.) with 6:40 to go in the first.

But Wesleyan answered with a 3-0 run to end the quarter and Bates trailed by five after the first 15 minutes.

The Cardinals took total command of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Bates 9-0. The run continued into the third quarter until senior captain Malcolm Klingbeil (Powell, Ohio) tallied a man-up goal on an assist from junior captain Jake Johnson (Lake Forest Park, Wash.), making the score 19-3 in favor of the visitors. Dixon answered on the other end and Wesleyan led 20-3 through three. 

The Bobcats got goals from sophomore Denzel Evans (Baltimore, Md.) and senior Navaar Naimie (York, Maine) to round out the scoring in the fourth quarter. First-year Liam Rule (Seattle, Wash.) assisted on Naimie's first career goal, which came as the buzzer sounded, ending the game.

Wesleyan tallied 55 shots and held Bates to just 29 shots and the Cardinals won the ground ball battle by a count of 52-28. 

The Bobcats return to action Saturday when they travel to Trinity for a 1pm face off.