LEWISTON — The first NCAA Division III field hockey tournament game in Bates College program history was everything the Bobcats could have wanted, and resulted in the first tournament win in program history.
Auburn natives Paige and Anna Cote each scored two goals in the Bobcats’ 7-0 win over Johnson & Wales at Campus Avenue Field on Wednesday.
“It was a great all-around game for everyone on the team,” Bates coach Dani Kogut said. “And I think we worked really hard this week just about reminding ourselves of what we do well, what Bates field hockey is about, so it was nice to see that come out on the field.”
Bates (13-5) advances to the second round, where it will face Babson College on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Babson Park, Massachusetts. The Bobcats lost to the Beavers 3-2 during the regular season.
Kogut said what the team can take from Wednesday night’s win into Saturday’s second-round matchup is, “I think just recognizing what we do well, and making sure that we continue to build on that and not getting too focused — obviously your opponent’s your opponent, but you have to play your game first.”
The Bobcats let the game come to them Wednesday night, but that meant holding off some early pressure from the Wildcats (17-3) in the opening minutes.
Bates had its first opportunity for some offense just under five minutes in, and it was Paige Cote who carried the ball in from the right corner then finished at the left post after Wildcats goalie Sophia Brea (eight saves) made the initial save.
“I think we were just super excited,” Cote said about scoring the first goal. “I mean, we put in so much work to get here, and then for us to see it pay off was really awesome. And I think we’ve been working so hard all season, so to capitalize early — and often — I think is what we set out to do, and we were really happy that we could do that today.”
Anna Cote made it 2-0 five minutes later when she converted off the Bobcats’ first penalty corner.
Paige Cote assisted on Molly Griffin’s second-quarter goal, which also came off a penalty corner on which Griffin took the insert.
Bates goalie Kaili Jacobsen only needed to make two saves, but they both came at key times with the clock winding down. The first was a kick save with 20 seconds left in the first quarter, the second was a point-blank, diving stop on Ava Pontes with 40 seconds left in the first half, keeping it a 3-0 Bates lead.
“Huge. And she’s been so solid for us all season, coming up big,” Kogut said. “Especially in moments where we’ve really needed her, and we’ve had maybe a breakdown in 1-v-1, she really knows how to play that well.”
The Bobcats doubled their lead in the third quarter, scoring three times in a span of 3 minutes, 1 second.
Anna Cote started the run with her second goal, a long hit off an assist from Anna Lindeis. Lindeis then scored off an assist by Lauren Salazar off a penalty corner to make it 5-0. Just over a minute later, Ella Blum scored unassisted.
The spurt showed the Bobcats heeded Kogut’s halftime talk.
“It’s just about a mentality of, make sure that we’re always playing with a mindset of the next two minutes, or the next phase that we can play,” Kogut said.
Paige Cote capped the scoring with just under 10 minutes to play, with an assist from Lindeis.
Playing a big role in the program’s historic victory with her sister has meaning for Cote, but she also made sure to emphasize that family extends beyond bloodlines for the Bobcats.
“I think we like to think that all of Bates field hockey is a family, but, yeah, it’s definitely extra special to get to do it with my sister,” Cote said.
Emma Volkers took over in the Bates goal after Paige Cote made it 7-0, and the senior made sure to secure the shutout on the Bobcats’ inaugural NCAA tournament win.
“Honestly, we tried to treat it as we’ve treated all games this season, and really just focus on us and what we do well,” Kogut said. “We will cherish it. I mean, it’s such an amazing memory, and to get to win the last game of the season on this field, because we won’t be back here, is just such a special thing. Not a lot of teams get to do that, especially with their senior class. So that’s super special.
“And we’ll certainly find time to celebrate, but I feel like we’re pretty all-business right now.”
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