Courtney Peterson (Julia Monaco)
Courtney Peterson (Julia Monaco)

Wellesley Lacrosse Opens 2017 With 19-7 Setback At No. 13 Bates

LEWISTON, Maine --  Wellesley College lacrosse opened the 2017 season with a 19-7 non-conference setback to No. 13 Bates College on Wednesday evening at Garcelon Field.

Senior Kaileigh Maguire (Sudbury, Mass.) and junior Camille Belletete (Jaffrey, N.H.) each poured in four goals and senior Drew Barry (Portland, Maine) added a hat trick, as Bates moved to 1-0 on the season. Barry also recorded a game-high five ground balls and two turnovers, while Belletete led all payers with eight draw controls. Senior Sydney Cowles (Wayne, Pa.) and junior Teal Otley (Cumberland, Maine) each added a pair of goals for the Bobcats, who also got goals from senior Joanie Oates (Charlotte, N.C.), juniors Allison Dewey (Vergennes, Vt.), Annie Duke (Englewood, Colo.) and sophomore Katie Allard (Ridgewood, N.J.).

Seniors Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.) and Mary Lemay (Longmeadow, Mass.) and first year Carley Phillips (Waterford, Conn.) each recorded two goals for the Blue (0-1), with Phillips also adding her first career assist in the second half. Sharkin also finished the contest with a team-high three draw controls. Classmate Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) chipped in with a goal and an assist. In goal, senior Wendy Nettleton (La Jolla, Calif.) made 11 saves, had three ground balls and caused two turnovers.

Bates stormed to a 5-0 lead in the game's opening eight minutes. Maguire and Belletete each scored twice as part of the opening run, before Lemay got the Blue on the board with her first of the season at 22:18 of the first. Back-to-back goals from Maguire and Cowles then put Bates out in front 7-1 at 9:51. Phillips potted her first career goal at the 7:42 mark, and Sharkin added her first of the year at 2:51, however, Bates would continue to added to their advantage, eventually taking an 11-3 lead into the half. 

Sharkin opened the second half with a free position goal at 28:15, but the two side's exchanged goals over the opening eight minutes of the second stanza, allowing Bates to maintain an eight-goal advantage when Otley made the score 14-6 at 21:49. Otley's marker was the first of six Bates' goals over the final 21:49 of regulation, as only Peterson could break the string with her first of the season at 12:00.

The Bobcats unleashed 42 shots in the contest, getting 30 on goal. Wellesley took 15 shots and finished with 11 on goal, as Bates sophomore Eliza Statile (Ipswich, Mass.) made four saves in the win. Bates also had a 16-9 advantage in ground balls and a 20-7 edge in draw controls. 

Wellesley returns home to host Endicott in non-conference action on Saturday, March 4, at 1:00 PM. Bates will travel to Wesleyan (Conn.) for 12:00 PM start on Saturday.