LEWISTON, Maine - The Connecticut College men's lacrosse team lost a conference game against the Bates Bobcats 15-13 on a cloudy afternoon at Garcelon Field.

Before the game, the Bobcats honored their seniors, a sentiment that carried into the first quarter. The Bobcats scored five goals in the first 10 minutes, with only freshman Patrick Atkins (Topsfield, Mass.) able to break into their run at the 11:31 mark. With five minutes left in the quarter, the Camels took over the momentum with a goal from freshman Aidan McAvoy (Charlotte, N.C.) to make the score 6-2. Bates responded a few minutes later, but it was Atkins and sophomore Bobby Chang (Vista, N.Y.) who finished the quarter with two more goals. 

Quickly into the second quarter, the Bobcats scored two goals to put them up 4-8, but then the Camels kicked into gear. Senior Nick Farnham (Falmouth, Maine) stopped the Bobcat run just a minute later with a goal. Then junior Jared Rainville (Watertown, Conn.) and sophomore Jack Tenzer (Charlotte, N.C.) took advantage of a man-up situation, adding two more goals to make it 7-8. The Camel defense locked down for the remainder of the half, keeping them within one of the Bobcats headed into the break.

The third quarter was a game of runs, first the Bobcats, then the Camels, with a couple of stray goals mixed in. The Bobcats struck first, but freshman Nick McLaughlin (Wilbraham, Mass.) answered quickly after, keeping the Camels within one. Three Bobcat goals within the next minute momentarily put the Camels on their heels, but McAvoy and Rainville answered with both of their second goals of the game. A Bates goal at the 3:30 mark was quickly answered a minute later by freshman JJ Ford (Clinton, Conn.) to close out the scoring for the third quarter, 11-13. 

Two Camel goals by senior Patrick Linehan (Baltimore, Md.) and Farnham tied the game in the first half of the fourth quarter, 13-13. An increasingly physical game, the last seven minutes of the game resulted in a few penalties and injuries on both sides. The Bobcats scored with 3:47 left, and despite many shots bouncing around the goal, the Camels were not able to overcome the Bobcat lead. Bates scored once more with 25 seconds left to solidify the win for the Bobcats.

Connecticut College (4-6, NESCAC 3-5) was led by McAvoy with two goals and two assists, and Ford with one goal and five assists. Sophomore goalie Will Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) recorded the loss with 13 saves.

The Camels will be back in action on Tuesday, April 19 at home against cross-street rival Coast Guard.