SCHENECTADY, N.Y. —
Jack Goldbach's go-ahead goal with 12:22 remaining put the Bobcats up for good as Bates men's lacrosse opened the 2026 campaign with a 14–13 road win at Union College Wednesday afternoon.
Three Bobcats recorded hat tricks in the win, led by Goldbach, who finished with three goals and two assists. His unassisted tally early in the fourth quarter broke an 11–11 tie as Bates held off the Garnet Chargers down the stretch.
Bates found its footing early after Union jumped out to a 2–0 lead, responding with three straight goals in the opening quarter. Goldbach opened the scoring for the Bobcats before
Henry McCann and
Liam Rule added goals to give Bates a 3–2 edge. Union answered with a goal in the final second of the period to pull even at three-all.
The Bobcats seized control in the second frame.
Riley McClure opened the period with his first goal of the season, while
Connor Hartman scored twice — including a man-up finish — during a 6–4 quarter that sent Bates into halftime with a 9–7 advantage.
Union (0-1) countered after the break, outscoring Bates 4–0 in the third quarter to surge ahead 11–9. Senior captain Walker Popko (Lattingtown, N.Y.) fueled the rally, accounting for two of his game-high seven goals during the stretch.
The road team responded in the fourth quarter. McClure scored twice to complete his hat trick, while
Dane Jones added a game-tying tally, his first as a Bobcat, to create the 11-11 stalemate. Goldbach followed with his tie-breaker before Hartman added an unassisted goal at the 1:31 mark to extend the margin to two.
Preseason All-American
Miles Schmidt won 14 of 25 face-offs and collected a game-high nine ground balls.
Andrew Toland earned the win in goal with nine saves over 58:53, and
Drew Nyhus played the final 1:07 to close out the victory.
Gray Doyle contributed a goal and a team-high three assists.
Bates outshot Union 41–33, finished 17-of-30 on face-offs, and converted two of three man-up opportunities in the contest.
The Bobcats (1–0) travel to Union, N.J., to face Kean University on Friday at 4 p.m.
