LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College men's soccer experienced its first defeat of the 2024 campaign Saturday as visiting Emerson College escaped Garcelon Field with a 2-1 victory over the the Bobcats.

The garnet and white, after starting the year a perfect 3-0, slip to 3-1 on the young season. The Lions move to 2-2-1 overall with the triumph.

Emerson had the Bobcats playing from behind early with the first goal of the afternoon coming just 6:41 into the match. After a turnover by Bates on the defensive side of the pitch,  Riler Selman (Fy.-Portland, Ore.) threaded a perfect through-ball to the right boot of a dashing Theodore Bushara (New York, N.Y.) as the senior one-timed a shot past a sliding George Nassar atop the Bobcats' box.

For Nassar (three saves), the tally marked the first yielded by the first-year keeper in 276:41 to start his collegiate career.

After going into intermission trailing by one, Bates came out of the break with ramped up intensity. Tife Agunloye, entering the day with a team-best three goals, made it four in four contests when the senior swiped a backwards pass intended for Emerson goalie, Beckett Hobbs (So.-Issaquah, Wash,), and promptly deposited his fourth of the year to knot the score at 1-1 with 35:57 remaining in the game.

The stalemate would prove to be short-lived, however, as Emerson took the lead for good in the 60th minute (59:52). Bushara unleashed a blast that clanked off the Bobcats' crossbar. The rebound found an unobstructed Selman, who promptly headed home the loose ball with what would be the game-winner.

Despite the result, Bates still owned a 13-11 overall shot advantage, Emerson possessed a 5-4 surplus on frame.

Hobbs (1-2) earned the win in net for the victors, recording three saves over 90:00.

The Bobcats now look ahead to Wednesday evening when the garnet and white hosts the University of Southern Maine at 8:00 p.m. on Garcelon Field.