Box Score LEWISTON, Maine – Despite getting a career performance from senior captain and goalie Jackie Mountford (New London, N.H.), the Connecticut College field hockey team dropped its NESCAC opener at Bates by a 5-0 score on Saturday afternoon.
 
Bates (2-2, NESCAC 1-2) controlled the first quarter and outshot the Camels by a 6-0 margin overall while also attempting both of the penalty corners in the frame. However, they got nothing to show for it, as Mountford made three stops and disrupted other opportunities.
 
In the second frame, the Bobcats found the back of the cage just 28 seconds into the stanza. Kami Lambert drove down the right side and sent a dangerous ball inside that Paige Cote ricocheted past Mountford to make it 1-0. Lambert then set up Bridget Thompson to double the margin less than three minutes later, and the hosts carried a two-goal lead into the break.
 
Bates continued to maintain possession and create chances throughout the second half. Thompson had a golden opportunity that went wide following a penalty corner, and another shot by Cote hit off the post. Riley Burns added an insurance marker by converting a penalty stroke late in the third, and the Bobcats tallied two more in the fourth to come away with their first NESCAC win of the season.
 
Grace Biddle picked up the shutout victory for Bates in the cage by only needing to make one save. Mountford took the loss despite stopping a career-best 19 shots and bettering her 18 from a match against Trinity back on Sept. 26, 2018. The Bobcats finished the game outshooting the Camels, 34-1, and had a 14-0 advantage in penalty corners.
 
Connecticut College (0-2, NESCAC 0-1) will have a quick turnaround and next host Colby for its home opener tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m.