LEWISTON, Maine -- Junior Caroline Keating scored a career-high six goals and the Bates women's lacrosse team defeated Plymouth State 21-9 Thursday afternoon at Garcelon Field.

The Bobcats (6-2) fell behind 1-0 before going on a 4-0 run to take the lead for good. Junior Lauren Wong (Walpole, Mass.) and sophomore Lucy Taylor (Falmouth, Maine) alternated scoring goals for Bates during the opening quarter, tallying two apiece. A Maddie Hunt goal for Plymouth State on an assist from Gracie Menicci with 1:23 left in the first cut the Bates lead to 4-2. But Keating (Rye, N.Y.) had the answer for the Bobcats on an assist from junior Zoe Schaedle (Philadelphia) with 28 seconds to go, putting the Bobcats up 5-2 through the first 15 minutes of action.

Keating opened the scoring in the second quarter as Bates went on a 5-0 run to go up 10-2 on a goal from sophomore Laci Raveis (Fairfield, Conn.) with 10:10 left until halftime.

Bates led 11-4 at the intermission, but the Panthers (4-2) got to within four at 11-7 on a Jenna Stowell goal with 11:53 left in the third quarter. That's as close as they'd get, as the Bobcats went on a 4-0 run -- keyed by a pair of Keating goals -- to go up by eight again. 

Senior captain Caroline Taggart (Concord, Mass.) continued her outstanding season, matching Keating in points with six, as Taggart scored three goals and dished out three assists. Taylor added a pair of goals and three assists. Wong and junior Julia Roelofs (Rye, N.H) both tallied hat tricks. Wong recorded four ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Roelofs finished with three ground balls and two caused turnovers. 

Stowell had a big game for the visiting Panthers, scoring five goals and securing a game-high 11 draw controls.

Junior Raegan White (Duxbury, Mass.) faced 18 shots and made 12 saves in 50:43 minutes in goal for the Bobcats, who are off to their best start to a season since 2016.

Bates is back in action Saturday at noon when the Bobcats visit No. 8 nationally ranked Wesleyan.