LEWISTON, Maine -- Sophomore Riley McClure scored three times and the Bates men's lacrosse team broke through for their first NESCAC victory in nearly three years, defeating Hamilton 14-8 Saturday afternoon at Garcelon Field. 

The Bobcats (3-0, 1-0 NESCAC) jumped out to a 14-3 advantage on Saturday, dominating the Continentals (0-1, 0-1 NESCAC) in all phases of the game through the first three quarters. Bates got their second unit some action in the fourth quarter, as Hamilton scored five times to cut the lead down to six by the end of regulation. 

Sophomore Miles Schmidt (Seattle) continued his tremendous start to the season, winning 20-23 faceoffs on Saturday. His winning percentage on faceoffs is now at .897 (52-58) through the first three games of the campaign. 

Schmidt set the tone right away, winning the opening face-off and racing down the field to score the second goal of his collegiate career. The Bobcats never trailed, as first-year Xander Frey (Potomac, Md.) and junior Connor Hartman (Hingham, Mass.) added to the Bates lead with goals of their own before Jayme Wilde got Hamilton on the board with 10:55 left in the first quarter. However, Bates ended the opening quarter on a 3-0 run, with McClure, senior Javi Werner (Brookline, Mass.), and Frey all scoring to put the Bobcats up 6-1 at the end of one.

A Carson Kraus goal with 12:19 left until halftime trimmed the Bates lead to four, but that's as close as Hamilton got the rest of the way. McClure scored twice in the second quarter and senior Tyler Chang (Manhasset, N.Y.) added one of his own to make the score 9-2 at the intermission. 

Nine different Bobcats scored in the win. Sophomore Gray Doyle (Summit, N.J.) joined Hartman and Frey with a pair of goals, scoring both of his in the third quarter as Bates scored five more goals as a team to go up by 11. Hartman, junior Liam Rule (Seattle), and junior Jake Anastas (Cape Neddick, Maine) all dished out two assists apiece, with Rule adding a goal, four ground balls, and a caused turnover.

Senior Ben Miller (Scarsdale, N.Y.) was a force on defense, causing four turnovers and recording four ground balls. Schmidt led the way per usual in ground balls as he notched 12 on the afternoon. Sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Toland (Hingham, Mass.) recorded six ground balls to go along with his 10 saves in 55:46 minutes played. 

Kraus and Frank Coyle led the visitors with two goals and one assist each. Jack Fried recorded six ground balls while Thomas Healy caused two turnovers.

The Bobcats out-shot Hamilton 43-33 on the afternoon as third-year head coach Dan Annino earned his first career NESCAC win. Bates had last won a NESCAC game on April 16, 2022 when they beat Connecticut College 15-13. Saturday's win was their largest margin of victory in a NESCAC game since beating Hamilton 17-9 on March 30, 2019.

Bates is back in action next Saturday at noon when they visit Williams.