MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — A fast start and a fourth-quarter lead weren't enough for the No. 18 Bates College men's lacrosse team, as No. 17 Middlebury used a late first-half surge and a decisive closing run to claim a 13-12 victory Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
The Bobcats (6-2, 2-2 NESCAC) opened in command, but the Panthers (4-2, 3-1 NESCAC) flipped the momentum just before halftime and capitalized late to hand Bates its second straight setback after a 6-0 start.
Bates struck first and dictated play early, scoring five of the game's first seven goals to build a 5-2 lead after one quarter.
Xander Frey opened the scoring (10:49) on a man-up opportunity, and the Bobcats followed with goals from
Charles Lowe,
Riley McClure,
Gray Doyle, and
Jack Goldbach during a sharp opening stretch.
The lead grew to 8-4 midway through the second quarter behind second goals from Frey and Doyle along with a tally from
Liam Rule. But Middlebury answered emphatically, closing the half on a 3-0 run over the final 4:48 to trim the deficit to 8-7 and seize momentum heading into the break.
Out of halftime, Bates briefly steadied itself.
Connor Hartman and
Jack Markert each scored in the third quarter, helping the Bobcats reestablish a two-goal cushion at 10-8. Once again though, Middlebury had a response, netting the final two goals of the period to even the score at 10-10 entering the fourth.
Doyle gave Bates its final lead of the afternoon early in the fourth, completing his hat trick to make it 11-10 with 13:49 remaining. From there, the Panthers took control. Middlebury scored three of the next four goals—including the go-ahead strike with 4:08 left and another with 1:48 remaining—to build a 13-11 advantage.
Frey answered with his third goal of the day at the 1:06 mark to pull Bates within one, but the Bobcats could not find the equalizer before time expired.
Doyle and Frey led the way with each garnering hat tricks, while Rule contributed a goal and two assists. Bates placed eight players on the score sheet.
Andrew Toland did all he could in frame for the Bobcats as the junior keeper collected 18 saves in a complete-game effort.
Bates will look to get back on track next Saturday when it returns home to host Williams at noon on Garcelon Field.
