Bates 2, Wheaton 1

Wheaton (13-8)      0   1   1
Bates (9-7)         1   1   2

SCORING: B, Kate Dockery (unassisted) 33:12; W, Briana Ferris (Becky
Donahue, Jill Baker) 54:38; B, Kate O'Malley (Jolene Thurston) 75:23

SAVES: B, Erika Esch (90 mp, 1 ga, 4 svs); W, Emily Boeing (90 mp, 2 
ga, 5
svs)

Wellesley, MA -- Junior Kate O'Malley (Deephaven, Minn.) scored in the 75th minute to lift third-seeded Bates College (9-7) to a 2-1 win over second-seeded Wheaton College (13-8) in the semifinals of the ECAC New England Women's Soccer Championship. Bates will play Gordon College, 2-1 winners over Babson, in the championship game Sunday at 1:00 at Babson.

Bates junior Jolene Thurston (Post Mills, Vt.) set up the game-winner, crossing the ball to O'Malley who drilled a shot past Wheaton keeper Emily Boeing (Sudbury, MA) from just inside the area.

Bates took a 1-0 lead at 33:12, when first-year Kate Dockery (New York, N.Y.) scored from just inside the box to make it 1-0 Bobcats. Wheaton evened the score at 54:58 on a goal by freshman Briana Ferris (Springfield, MA) with assists to Jill Baker (North Kingston, RI) and Becky Donahue (West Springfield, MA).

Bates first-year goalie Erika Esch (Joplin, Mo.) made four saves in goal in her first career start to earn the win while Boeing made five stops in a losing effort for the Lyons.