LEWISTON, Maine -- Brighton McMahon redirected a shot off a penalty corner from Morgan Clarke in the 58th minute to give No. 10 nationally ranked Hamilton a 2-1 win over No. 5 Bates field hockey Sunday at Campus Ave. Field. 

It's the first loss of the year for the Bobcats (9-1, 5-1 NESCAC), who sit tied with defending conference champion Tufts at the top of the standings.

Hamilton (8-3, 3-3 NESCAC) got on the board first Sunday when Sammy Higgins scored in the 13th minute. Her first attempt got denied by Bates sophomore goalie Ava Donohue (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), but Higgins stuck with it and was able to elevate the ball into the back of the cage from the left post.

The Bobcats answered in the 29th minute on a penalty corner when sophomore Caroline Nowak (Pelham, N.Y.) collected a rebound off a shot from junior captain Haley Dwight (West Newbury, Mass.) and scored her second goal of the season.

Bates and Hamilton remained tied at one through three quarters, but the Continentals took advantage of their only penalty corner in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good. Higgins delivered the insert to the top of the circle and Clarke ripped a shot on goal. McMahon was waiting by the left post and redirected the shot home to give the visitors the 2-1 edge.

The Bobcats didn't back down, earning multiple penalty corners in the final minute of action, only to see Hamilton block all their shot attempts in a frenzied 60th minute.

Donohue finished with four saves for Bates, while Abby Griffin played the first 30 minutes for Hamilton and made three saves. The Bobcats did not record a shot on goal in the second half, as Kelly Janssen did not have to make any saves coming off the bench for Hamilton.

Bates visits No. 8 Tufts this upcoming Saturday for a noon showdown, with first place in the NESCAC on the line.