BRUNSWICK, Maine — A six-goal opening quarter by 2nd-seed Tufts set the tone Saturday as the 5th-seed Bates College men's lacrosse team dropped a 15-7 decision in the NESCAC Championship Tournament semifinals at Bowdoin's Whittier Field.
Making their first semifinal appearance since 2017, the Bobcats (11-5) fell behind 6-0 after one quarter and were unable to fully recover against a Tufts squad that improved to 16-1 on the season.
Tufts struck quickly and repeatedly in the opening period, scoring six times in the first 14 minutes, including a pair of goals just seven seconds apart in the final minute to seize complete early control. The Jumbos extended the margin to 7-0 early in the second before Bates broke through at the 9:09 mark on
Riley McClure's first of three goals.
Bates showed signs of life in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 8-2 on another McClure tally before
Connor Hartman added a goal with 6:03 left in the period. But Tufts responded with a decisive 5-1 run to close the quarter, pushing the lead to 13-3 entering the fourth.
Hartman led the Bobcats offensively with four goals, while McClure added five total points (three goals, two assists).
Jack Goldbach contributed a pair of helpers as Bates finished with 31 shots and converted its lone extra-man opportunity.
Tufts was paced by Brooks Hauser's four goals and two assists, with Will Emsing adding a score and three aiders. The Jumbos held advantages in shots (36-31) and faceoffs (17-9), helping maintain possession throughout.
Despite the setback, Bates' postseason run marks a step forward for the program, reaching the NESCAC semifinals for the first time in nine years. The Bobcats will now await their NCAA Tournament fate, with the 2026 field set to be announced Sunday at 9 p.m.
