Hartford, Conn. – The visiting Bates College men's soccer team got off to a quick start on Saturday afternoon, scoring a trio of first-half goals en route to a 3-0 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) victory against Trinity at Campus Field. The Bantams suffered their first home loss of the season to move to 4-2-1 on the year and 1-2-1 in league play, while the Bobcats snapped a four-game winless streak against Trinity to improve to 1-6-1 overall and 1-4-0 in conference tilts.

The goalkeeping duo of junior Sam Polito and sophomore Jack Anderson combined to stop six shots for Bates as the team recorded its first shutout of the season. On the opposite end, senior Jason Katz (Middleton, Mass.) played the first half and made six saves in a losing effort and sophomore Domenic Quade (Norwood, Mass.) came on in relief of Katz in the second half and turned aside both shots he faced.

Bates first-year midfielder Nate Merchant opened the scoring in the contest as he chipped a shot past Katz in the 17th minute of action. Sophomore midfielder Matt DiVite sent a perfectly placed through ball to Merchant in stride and as Katz came charging out he sent a shot that found the back of the net. The goal was Merchant's first collegiate tally and proved to be the game winner.

Later in the opening half, sophomore forward Peabo Knoth and first-year defender Max Watson added unassisted tallies for the Bobcats in the 33rd and 41st minutes, respectively.

In the second half neither team was able to break through as Bates held on for its first conference win of the season.

The Bobcats held a 13-11 advantage in shots and each team took a pair of corner kicks.

Trinity returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 4, with a road conference game versus Bowdoin. The contest with the Polar Bears is slated for 12:00 p.m. as the Bantams looking for their first NESCAC win away from in 2014.