LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates women's soccer made history Tuesday night, blanking Bowdoin, 3-0, for the program's first win over the Polar Bears since 2005, the largest margin of victory in the series since 1998, and the most goals scored by the Bobcats in a NESCAC match since 2021.
On a night when the Bobcats hosted Youth Night and welcomed local youth soccer players to Russell Street Field, junior
Eleanor Martin (Oilville, Va.) put together a night to remember.
Martin got the scoring started just eight minutes into the match, heading home a perfectly placed cross from first-year
Whitney Ladich (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Ladich intercepted a pass from the Bowdoin goalkeeper before driving down the left side of the field and sending a cross into the box, where Martin finished to give Bates an early 1-0 lead. The Bobcats carried that advantage into halftime.
Bates continued its momentum into the second half, with Martin striking again in the 54th minute. Junior captain
Gwyn Jamison (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) played a perfectly weighted through ball to Martin, who calmly finished for her second goal of the night.
The brace marked the first two goals of Martin's Bates career in NESCAC play.
Just two minutes later, Jamison added a goal of her own in spectacular fashion. From nearly 35 yards out, Jamison sent a free kick soaring over the Bowdoin goalkeeper and into the back of the net to extend the Bobcats' lead to 3-0.
Bates controlled long stretches of the match, consistently working the ball into the attacking third while generating opportunities through throw-ins, free kicks and corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper
Sydney Litney (Schaumburg, Ill.) made five saves on the night, including a low attempt in the second half, to help preserve the shutout.
The Bobcats return to NESCAC play Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m., when they host Trinity at Russell Street Field as part of Back to Bates weekend.
