Bates 2, Middlebury 1

Middlebury (6-7-2)  0   1   1
Bates (8-7)         0   2   2

Scoring: B, 66:05, Amanda Waterhouse (Jolene Thurston), B, 74:15, Jo-Ellen
Rowley (Kate O'Malley) M, 86:55, Kristine Kraushaar (Amanda Fiedler).

Goalies: B, Susie Arnold, 90 Min., 1 GA, 13 SV. M, Ali Connolly, 90 Min., 
2 GA,  8 SV.

Shots: M, 19-17.

Corner Kicks: M, 4-3.

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates College Bobcats avenged their worst defeat of the season with a 2-1 defeat of New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rival Middlebury College in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England women's soccer tournament here today.

After a scoreless first half, the Bobcats (8-7) opened the scoring in the 66th minute. Junior midfielder Jolene Thurston (Post Mills, Vt.) found a streaking Amanda Waterhouse (Cumberland, Maine) in the middle of the field. The first-year forward beat Middlebury goalie Ali Connolly (Marblehead, Mass.) to the ball, dribbled once and shot it home. Bates extended the lead eight minutes later in the 74th minute. Senior forward Colleen McCrave (Walpole, Mass.) made a perfect throw in to the middle of the field. Junior forward Kate O'Malley (Deephaven, Minn.) headed the ball past a Middlebury defender, then sent it towards the far post. First-year halfback Jo-Ellen Rowley (Milton, Vt.) made a run and, while sliding, shot it past a diving Connolly.

The Panthers (6-7-2) cut the lead in half with four minutes remaining in the game. Fullback Amanda Fiedler dribbled the ball from midfield, before sending it ahead to senior midfielder Kristine Kraushaar (Shelburne, Vt.), who found the back of the net. The Panthers were able to sustain the pressure in the final moments of the game, but could not equalize.

Bates senior goalkeeper Susie Arnold (Falmouth, Mass.) made 13 saves in the win, while Connolly had eight stops for Middlebury. The Panthers had defeated Bates, 5-0, earlier in the season.

Bates will face the winner of the game between #2 Wheaton and #7 Anna Maria on Saturday afternoon at a site to be determined.