FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOUR BATES ATHLETES EARN ALL-NESCAC HONORS

LEWISTON, Maine -- Senior field hockey co-captain Molly McMahon of Cumberland, senior men's soccer player Chad LaFauci of North Andover, Mass., and women's soccer teammates Colleen McCrave of Walpole, Mass., and Kate O'Malley of Deephaven, Minn., have all been named All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) performers.

McMahon, a defender and co-captain on the field hockey team, was named first-team All-NESCAC. An All-New England East region selection a year ago, McMahon was called on upon to mark the opposition's top scoring threats, often holding them scoreless. She was an integral part of the Bobcats' 7-7 regular season record that earned them their first-ever post-season berth in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England championship. "Molly is very deserving of this honor," said first-year head coach Wynn Hohlt. "Aside from her ability to stop some of the best scorers in the the country, she has been a great leader for a young team."

LaFauci, a midfielder and tri-captain on the men's soccer team, was named second-team All-NESCAC. He is third on the team in scoring with four goals and three assists for 11 points. LaFauci's last two goals have given the Bobcats overtime victories Ñ Oct. 21 against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Nov. 11 in a first-round matchup with in-state rival Colby College in the ECAC men's soccer championship. Bates faces Tufts University Nov. 14 at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. Game time is 1 p.m. At 10-5, the Bobcats have equaled the school record for wins in a season, last done in 1967. "Chad has worked very hard this season," said head coach George Purgavie. "He is an excellent two-way player."

McCrave, a forward and tri-captain, was named first-team All-NESCAC, earning her second honor from the conference after a second-team nod last season. McCrave was fifth in the conference in scoring with seven goals and nine assists for 23 points. With 25 assists in her career, McCrave is Bates' all-time leader, a position she also holds for the women's basketball team. Bates finished the regular season with a 7-7 record, earning the third seed in the ECAC women's soccer tournament. The Bobcats put together their first three-game winning streak of the season to capture their third ECAC crown and first since 1991.

O'Malley, a junior forward, earned her second berth on the All-NESCAC first team. Her 13 goals and six assists for 32 points placed her fourth in the conference in scoring this season. She posted five-multiple goal games this season. With three goals and an assist in the ECAC tournament, O'Malley earned tournament MVP honors. A two-time All-American, O'Malley is ranked second on the Bobcats' all-time goal scoring list with 40 goals, and on the point-scoring list with 97 points.