Bates College

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates put on an offensive showcase, scoring eight goals from five different Bobcats in an 8-0 rout of UMaine-Farmington, highlighted by a second-half hat trick from first-year Whitney Ladich (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

Bates (6-4-1) senior Olivia Becker (Woodbridge, Va.) got the scoring started early, finding the back of the net twice in the opening 12 minutes. She opened the scoring in the seventh minute, converting a pass from junior Isabelle Bernal (San Francisco, Calif.), before adding her second goal in the 11th minute off an assist from fellow senior Nicole Tandetnitskiy (Newton, Mass.) to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.

The Bobcats continued their offensive surge after halftime. Tandetnitskiy got a goal of her own to make it 3-0 in the 48th minute, finishing low to the right off an assist from first-year Kira Nosse (Honolulu, Hawaii). Sophomore Aurora Rella-Neill (Pownal, Vt.) extended the lead to 4-0 in the 52nd minute, finishing low and center off a pass from senior captain Ruby Hill (Berkeley, Calif.).

Ladich then took center stage, scoring three goals in less than nine minutes to record her hat trick. She found the back of the net in the 61st minute, finishing low to the right off an assist from first-year Clara Oldenburg (Bangor, Maine), to make it 5-0. Ladich struck again in the 67th minute, heading the ball high and center off a Hill assist to extend the lead to 6-0. Just two minutes later, she completed the hat trick with another low finish to the right, this time off a second Oldenburg assist, pushing the advantage to 7-0. Bernal capped the scoring in the 82nd minute, slotting home a pass from Rella-Neill to secure the 8-0 final.

Ladich's hat trick marks the first for Bates women's soccer since Hannah Graves '17 recorded three goals against Thomas College in 2016. With eight goals this season, Ladich has scored the most goals by a Bates women's soccer first-year since Kim Alexander '07 netted 10 in 2003. The Bobcats' 28 goals as a team this season are also their most since 2016, when Bates finished the year with 28 goals.

Senior goalkeeper Sydney Litney (Schaumburg, Ill.) started in goal for Bates and made one save on UMaine-Farmington's lone shot on target, a 15th-minute attempt by Miah Coffin. First-year Jess Marino (Hanson, Mass.) made her collegiate debut in the second half, taking over between the posts and helping preserve the shutout.

Bates finished the night with 44 shots.

The Bobcats return to NESCAC play Saturday, Oct. 17, when they host Tufts at noon on Russell Street Field.