"I am really ecstatic for the seniors," said Coach Jim Murphy. "All five of them have been an integral part of this team for four years. Any time you can go out like that and win the last game of the tournament, you've got to be happy for them."

While junior forward Kate O'Malley provided all the scoring punch Bates would need in the finals versus Gordon, ringing up two goals en route to being named the tournament MVP, she was quick to credit her teammates. "Other people really picked it up for that game," said O'Malley. "I just happened to be there to kick it in."

O'Malley's first tally came at 16:22 off a corner kick by sophomore midfielder Val Rosenberg. She closed up the scoring at 61:32 with a penalty kick that found the twine behind Gordon goalkeeper Sara Parker. Bates goalie Suzie Arnold '99 disarmed the Fighting Scots, making seven saves and wrapping up her third shutout of the season.

"Our season had its ups and downs, but it was really nice to finally go out strong and end on a positive note," said O'Malley. "We were definitely more fired up and more mentally prepared for that game. Winning was incredible...It was just the best getting a huge hug with the whole team."

To reach the finals last Sunday, Bates first had to grind their way through a brutally physical contest with Wheaton on Saturday, highlighted by first-year goalie Erika Esch's first career start, a clutch four-save performance. Kate Dockery '02 put the `Cats on the board first when she put one away from just inside the box at 33:12. Wheaton made it a ballgame 20 minutes later with their tying goal, but (who else?) Kate O'Malley got it done in the 75th minute, driving a cross from Jolene Thurston '00 for the winner.

"That was a real tough game," said O'Malley. "The fans were getting on us and we were all pretty banged up, but we worked really hard and came through. On Sunday, I just remember feeling so beat up, but we wanted to win so badly."