Men's Lacrosse Gets Win No. 8, Remains Unbeaten
April 6, 2005

Bryan Frates '08

LEWISTON, Maine – The Bates College men’s lacrosse team improved to 8-0 Wednesday, defeating Colby College 11-6 in a physical contest between in-state rivals.

Bates and Colby began the game in a defensive struggle, keeping pace with each other to end the first quarter tied at 3-3. A pair of second quarter goals by Pete Friedman ’05 (Putney, Vt.) gave the Bobcats a 5-3 lead heading into halftime.

Colby’s Zach Goodnough ’08 (Brunswick, Maine) notched an early third quarter goal to bring the Mules within one, 5-4. In response, Bates’ Matt Erisman ’07 (Nantucket, Mass.) dodged from behind the net, scoring in typical “Gary-Gait-dive” fashion to give Bates a 6-4 lead and the momentum with 9:15 left in the third quarter.

Brenton Pitt ’06 (Duxbury, Mass.) followed suit, dodging through multiple defenders to net his own unassisted goal and give Bates a 7-4 advantage.

Colby’s Ryan Scott ’07 (Columbia, N.J.) responded with an unassisted tally, but the Bobcats regained momentum on a second Erisman dodge that brought the score to 8-5 at the end of the third quarter.

Scott netted his second goal at the start of the fourth, pulling Colby within two, 8-6. Bates, however, netted three more fourth quarter goals, winning 11-6. Gabe Belsky ’06 (Avon, Conn.) helped the Bobcats remain undefeated, winning 8 of 13 face-offs.  

Co-Captain Pete Friedman ’05 (Putney, Vt.) and Matt Erisman ’07 (Nantucket, Mass.) led Bates’ offense attack, both scoring two goals and notching an assist; Justin Simon ’08 (Canaan, N.H.) added two goals of his own. Also scoring for Bates were Co-Captain Danny Ross ’05 (Chevy Chase, Md.), David Pritchard ’06 (Narbeth, Pa.), and Brenton Pitt ’06 (Duxbury, Mass.).

Scott led Colby with two goals, while Troy Lieberman ’06 (Andover, Mass.), Dan Schupak ’07 (Cheshire, Conn.), Ryan Connolly ’07 (Concord, Mass.), and Goodnough all tallied a goal apiece. Goalie Jeff Miller ’06 (Marshfield, Mass.) made 14 saves behind an aggressive Mule defense. 

Bates hosts Connecticut College Saturday April 9, 2005 at 1:00 p.m.

by Eamonn Reynolds '06