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The Bates College 2002 men's soccer season kicked off on another continent, as the Bobcats spent 11 days in Great Britain on a training tour. Coach George Purgavie's squad added a talented first-year class that upheld the Bobcats' reputation for a stingy defense, allowing just 17 goals in 15 games. Among the victories in the Bobcats' 6-6-3 season was a 2-1 defeat of NESCAC rival Tufts, a squad that went on to earn a national ranking later in the season. Bates reached the NESCAC tournament for the first time in 2001, giving the team its third postseason berth in four years.
“Bates soccer has a lot to offer the student who wants a program that demands excellence,” says Purgavie. “This is not a program for an average player. We offer athletes the opportunity to test their abilities against the best Division III teams in New England and against some of the best players in the country.”
In 2002, the Bobcats will feel the loss of All-NESCAC goalkeeper Dan Spector '02 (Framingham, Mass.) and leading scorer Drew Weymouth '02 (Holden, Mass.), but each of their next eight top scorers are back. Senior forward Brian Luoma '03 (Virginia Beach, Va.) is the top returnee with four goals and an assist last year, and 16 goals and two assists for his career. Classmate Jeff Critchlow (Carlisle, Mass.), an All-NESCAC selection last season, leads the defensive unit, while seniors Nick MacInnis (Andover, Mass.) and Mike Masi (York, Maine) anchor the midfield. Chris Mansfield '04 (Lincoln, Mass.) and James Kenly '05 (Boxford, Mass.) will battle to replace Spector for the team's goalkeeping spot.
Bates plays a 14-game schedule, including nine NESCAC league games before the conference tournament. Preseason work begins Sept. 1. Support for the Bobcats is very strong; Russell Street Field is frequently packed with Bates fans. Even at away games, it is not uncommon for Bates fans to outnumber the opponents’ partisans.
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