HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Bates women's lacrosse sophomore Caroline Keating exploded for four goals but the Bobcats fell in a tight 10-8 game to No. 17 nationally ranked Stevens Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. 

The Bobcats (0-1) led for most of the game before the Ducks (1-0) rallied with five goals in the third quarter to take the lead for good. 

With the score tied at seven and 1:33 left in the third quarter, Maddie Hogan found the back of the net for the go-ahead score for the hosts. Hogan scored again less than a minute later to give the Ducks a 9-7 edge through three.

With 11:46 left in the fourth quarter, Bates sophomore Lauren Wong (Walpole, Mass.) got the Bobcats back to within one at 9-8 with her second tally of the afternoon. But the rest of the game turned into a defensive struggle, and Emily Leiby provided an insurance goal for the Ducks with 5:35 left. Bates did not score after Wong's goal, falling by just two points to the Ducks.

Bates scored the first two goals of the afternoon, with Wong and Keating (Rye, N.Y.) both scoring within the first two minutes of action.

Stevens rallied and the game stood tied at three through one quarter. Keating put the Bobcats back up by one early in the second quarter and first-year Laci Raveis (Fairfield, Conn.) gave Bates a 5-3 lead with 4:44 remaining until halftime. 

An Alison Lax tally on an assist from Rebecca Guerra trimmed the Bates edge to 5-4 at the intermission.

Less than a minute into the third quarter, Keating scored her third goal of the game, and Bates led by two again. As they had all game, the Ducks came back, with Anna Velardi and Rebecca Guerra notching back-to-back goals with less than 10 minutes to go in the quarter, tying the game at six. 

Senior captain Sadie O'Neil (Concord, Mass.) found Keating for her final goal of the afternoon, putting the Bobcats up 7-6 with 8:06 left in the third. But it would be their final lead of the game, as Emily Leiby scored unassisted with 4:51 remaining in the quarter to tie the game at seven. 

Junior Avery Lehman (Portsmouth, N.H.) played well in her second career start in goal, making nine saves in 19 chances and recording a pair of ground balls.

Keating secured a game-high six draw controls and recorded two ground balls to go along with her four goals. Senior captain Maddy Roelofs (Rye, N.H.) recorded a game-high six ground balls and caused two turnovers. O'Neil dished out the only two assists for Bates, as their other six goals came unassisted.

Four different players scored two goals apiece for Stevens, with Guerra leading the way in points thanks to her two goals and two assists. Felicity Heilferty made eight saves on 16 Bates shots on goal.

The game was very even statistically, although the Bobcats were hurt by 17 turnovers to only 12 for Stevens. The Bobcats won the draw control battle 13-9. 

Bates is back in action next Wednesday for their home opener when the Bobcats host Worcester State at 5pm on Garcelon Field.