LEWISTON, Maine -- Hanna Matthews' goal with 2:31 remaining in regulation snapped an 8-8 stalemate with what proved to be the game-winner as Bates College women's lacrosse closed out the 2024 campaign with a magical 9-8 dismissal of nationally-ranked Colby College Wednesday on Garcelon Field.

The victory marks the Bobcats' first win over a team ranked #10 or higher in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Top-25 Poll since knocking off #2 Middlebury in overtime back on Mar. 2, 2019. Bates also snaps a seven-game slide vs. the Mules, last defeating Colby 9-3 on the road in the quarterfinals of the  2016 NESCAC Championship Tournament (4/30/16).

Colby (10-5, 5-5 NESCAC) owned an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter after Kins Helmer and Julia Maimonis poured in back-to-back goals 13 seconds apart at 11:56 and 11:43, respectively. The Bobcats immediately pounced with five unanswered goals, and authored an overall 8-2 run, to create an 8-4 cushion with 11:04 to go in the third.

After being shut out by a stifling Bates defense in the third period (and netting only one goal in the second), the Mules mounted a furious offensive flurry in the final frame, scoring four unanswered to tie the game with just 3:08 left and, ultimately, setting the stage for Matthews' heroics.

The Bobcats' back line disrupted the Colby contingency all night as the Mules turned the ball over 24 times in the loss. Trish Balser led the Bobcat defense with four caused turnovers. 

The clutch tally marked Matthews' second of the night and the senior's 23rd of the year, tying the Westwood, Mass. native with teammate Lauren Wong on the team's final stat list. Laci Raveis, after registering a hat trick and five total points in the win, concludes her first collegiate campaign with a team-best 24 goals and 31 points (13 games).

Raegan White (2-0), making her third start of the season in net for Bates, was sensational as the sophomore secured eight saves in the complete-game victory. Sarah Hearns, who dazzled in the Colby cage, collected 11 saves of her own in the effort.

Bates ends the year with a mark of 6-9 (2-8 NESCAC).