MIDDLEBURY, Vt.- Bates College journeyed to Middlebury College Saturday for a men's lacrosse matinee as the #16 Panthers secured a 17-10 NESCAC victory over the visiting Bobcats.
Despite the result,
Gray Doyle enjoyed a career-day as the first-year attack netted a season-high four goals in the effort. A native of Summit, N.J., Doyle now leads the garnet and white with 11 goals, 12 assists, and 23 points over his first six contests as a Bobcat.
Doyle deposited three of Bates' first four goals of the game to provide the road team a 4-3 lead at 11:02 in the second period.
Connor Hartman followed at 5:45 with a man-up goal to increase the Bobcat cushion to two at 5-3.
The Panthers (2-3, 2-1 NESCAC) proceeded to pounce for a 6-0 run, three of which were scored by Russell Thorndike, to put the home team ahead, 9-5, early in the third quarter (11:51). Bates bounced back by putting in three of the next four scoring efforts to slice the deficit to 10-8 at 6:56 in the third.
Middlebury made things very difficult for its guest as the Panthers put together a second 6-0 surge to double up the Bobcats, 16-8, with just 7:41 remaining in regulation.
William Ryan pocketed a game-best five goals for the victors while Billy Curtis recorded nine points (two goals, seven assists) for the Panthers. Hartman finished with two tallies and a helper for the Bobcats while
Riley McClure also posted a two-goal performance for the garnet and white.
The Panthers outshot Bates, 61-40, with a 38-26 margin on frame.
Hayden Kern, with 16 saves over 58:15, earned the goalkeeping victory.
Andrew Toland continues to turn heads in the Bobcats' cage as the first-year net-minder gathered a career-high 21 saves in a complete-game (60:00) showing.
Bates (2-4, 0-3 NESCAC) now heads to Castine, Maine this Wednesday for a non-conference visit to Maine Maritime Academy (5:30 p.m.).
