Bates Pushes Past Blue Soccer

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates College women's soccer team scored three goals in the second half to pull away from a halftime tie and notch a 4-2 non-conference victory over Wellesley College on Wednesday at Russell Street Field.

The loss drops the visiting Blue, ranked 10th in New England, to 3-3-1, while the unranked Bobcats rise to 2-1-1.

In an evenly played game overall, Bates held a 23-22 advantage in shots taken, but was more successful at making them count.

Bates junior Sam Alper broke a scoreless tie in the 42nd minute of the first half, tipping in a shot by first-year Camille Smith from 10 yards out. But Wellesley answered with 36 seconds left in the period, when sophomore Kara Lungmus's hard kick from along the goal line was ruled deflected into the goal by Bates junior goalie Annie Burns.

Bates regained the lead shortly after intermission, as junior Tina Tobin took a pass from first-year Jaimie Cappucci from the top of the box and converted the score from eight yards out.

Wellesley again knotted the game, however, at 2-2 in the 62nd minute, when first-year Ariel Chao netted her team-high sixth goal of the season. First-year Lena Cardoso served the ball into the box to Chao, who knocked it past Burns from the penalty kick spot.

The Bobcats got the lead back for good with 14:28 remaining in the game. Junior Courtney Talcott launched a shot from outside the box, on the right side, over Wellesley junior goalie Sarah Gray's head for a 3-2 lead.

Bates got an insurance goal in the 87th minute, when Tobin returned the favor to Cappucci by setting up the rookie's team-high second goal of the season, carrying the ball along the left of the box and dishing to Cappucci in the middle for the finish.

Both Burns and Gray had five saves apiece in the game.

Bates will play at NESCAC rival Trinity on Saturday at 11 a.m.; Wellesley is at NEWMAC rival Mount Holyoke on Saturday at 1 p.m.