BRUNSWICK, Maine -- The Bates women's lacrosse team erased a late deficit and got an overtime winner from
Lauren Wong to secure its first NESCAC victory of the season, a 13–12 triumph at Bowdoin on Wednesday night.
Bates (5-5, 1-5 NESCAC) built an early lead, saw it slip away, and then responded late before the senior delivered the decisive goal 1:24 into overtime.
The Bobcats came out firing, scoring the game's first four goals and six of the first seven. Wong struck twice in the opening minutes, and goals from
Caroline Keating,
Laci Raveis, and
Emma Lavallee helped Bates surge to a 6–1 lead late in the first quarter.
Bowdoin (3-6, 0-6 NESCAC) chipped away, closing the first quarter with two goals and continuing to apply pressure throughout the middle periods. Bates maintained the edge into halftime, leading 8–6, but the Polar Bears used a 4–2 third quarter to even the game at 10–10 heading into the fourth.
The back-and-forth continued in the final quarter.
Lucy Taylor gave Bates an 11–10 lead with 8:44 remaining, but Bowdoin answered with two straight tallies to move in front, 12–11, with under six minutes to play.
Bates had the response it needed. Wong finished off a feed from Raveis with 4:29 remaining to tie the game at 12–12 and force overtime.
After a controlled start to the extra session, the Bobcats earned possession, and Wong delivered again—scoring off an assist from
Grace Cassin at the 3:36 mark to seal the 13–12 victory.
Wong led the way with five goals, including the equalizer and the game-winner, while Raveis turned in a six-point performance (three goals, three assists). Cassin added three points (one goal, two assists), and Keating contributed a goal and an assist.
Caroline Keating paced the victors with five ground balls and four draw controls.
Virginia Avery grabbed nine saves in 62:24 to garner the goalkeeping triumph.
The garnet and white now returns to home to host Hamilton College Saturday at noon on Garcelon Field. Bates will honor its 11 seniors during a special pregame ceremony.
