Hartford, Conn. – Three different Bobcats scored three times to lead the visiting Bates College Bobcats to a 14-6 victory over the Trinity College Bantams in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's lacrosse action this afternoon on Jessee/Miller Field.  Trinity, ranked No. 10 in New England, falls to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the NESCAC with its first loss to the Bobcats since 2006, while the Bobcats, ranked No. 5 I the region, improve to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the league.

Bates senior midfielder Rob Highland (Yarmouth, Maine) scored the first goal of the game less than one minute into it to ignite a 3-0 Bobcat run to start the first quarter.  Trinity sophomore midfielder James O'Connell (Middleton, Mass.) scored from senior attackman Jeff Hebert (Chambly, Quebec) at 4:46 of the first frame, but junior middie Will Gilkeson (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and Highland answered with unassisted tallies for a 5-1 Bates lead early in the second quarter.  Back-to-back scores by Bantam sophomore attackman Matt Hauck (Ridgewood, N.J.) and senior tri-captain attackman Rob Nogueras (Parkland, Fla.) cut the visitors' lead to 7-3 with 12:04 left before halftime.  Nogueras and Bobcat freshman midfielder Jack Allard (Ridgewood, N.J.) traded goals, before Bates closed the half with a 4-0 run for a 10-4 lead after two quarters.  Rookie attackman Charlie Hildebrand (Berwyn, Pa.) scored twice for Bates during the spurt.

After a slow start to the third quarter, Bantam junior midfielder Chase Growney (Berwyn, Pa.) converted on a feed by senior tri-captain middie Nick Shaheen (Williamsburg, Mass.) with 3:20 on the clock, but Allard answered with his third tally of the contest for Bates.  Bobcat sophomore attackman Jack Strain (Montclair, N.J.) netted two of his three goals in the fourth quarter, while Nogueras scored the game's last goal from Hauck to account for a 14-6 final score.

Bates outshot Trinity, 48-29, converted on 18 of 19 clear attempts, and forced 30 turnovers while committing 15.  Nogueras led the Trinity offense with three goals, while senior tri-captain midfielder Drew Grombala (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore midfielder William DeLaMater (Irvington, N.Y.) both added three ground balls and two caused turnovers, and sophomore goalkeeper Makar Zaverucha (Duxbury, Mass.) made nine saves in 38-plus minutes of play.  Highland joined Highland and Strain with Bates hat tricks, while Strain also had a pair of assists.  Bobcat sophomore middie Mac Jackson (Hood River, Oregon) scooped a game-high five ground balls, while senior co-captain defenseman Charlie Clark (Pepper Pike, Ohio) notched three ground balls and two caused turnovers, and junior Charlie Kazarian (Providence, R.I.) made 11 saves in the Bates goal.

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