MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The Bates men's lacrosse team continued its unbeaten start to the season in emphatic fashion Saturday, knocking off No. 6 Wesleyan, 13–11, at Citrin Field in the NESCAC opener for both programs. The victory improved the Bobcats to 3-0 overall and marked Bates' first win over the Cardinals on the road since March 5, 2016.
Bates set the tone early and never relinquished control, building an 8–6 halftime lead before shutting out Wesleyan entirely in the third quarter. The Bobcats pushed their advantage to 11–6 entering the fourth and withstood a late Wesleyan surge to secure the road upset.
Bates struck first on
Connor Hartman's goal at the 12:55 mark of the opening quarter, then closed the period (0:06) with a second tally to give the Bobcats a 3–2 lead. The garnet and white answered every Wesleyan response in the second quarter, scoring three goals in the final 1:11 — including tallies by
Jack Goldbach and
Henry McCann — to carry a two-goal edge into the break.
The third quarter proved decisive. Bates scored three unanswered goals, highlighted by man-up finishes from McCann and Hartman, while the defense held Wesleyan scoreless for the full 15 minutes.
Wesleyan made its push in the fourth, scoring four times in a span of just 2:40 to trim the deficit to 11–10. Bates responded with goals from
Jack Markert (game-winner) and Hartman to restore breathing room before closing out the contest.
Bates finished 3-for-5 on extra-man opportunities and successfully cleared 24 of 26 attempts. The Cardinals outshot the Bobcats, 52–36, but the Bates defense turned aside the rally attempt and preserved the win.
Andrew Toland anchored the effort in goal, finishing with 20 saves on 31 shots on cage, as the junior improves to 3-0.
Hartman led the Bates attack with four goals while
Gray Doyle added two unassisted tallies.
Xander Frey and McCann each finished with two scores, with Frey also contributing a pair of assists.
Charles Lowe posted a team-high three assists to go along with a goal.
Bates (3-0, 1-0 NESCAC), after three-straight away from campus to start the season, will finally make its home debut as the Bobcats welcome Emerson College to Garcelon Field Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.
