Field hockey plays well in 1-0 loss at Hamilton

Jessie Moriarty '19 attempted a game-high five shots, with three of them saved by Hamilton in a 1-0 loss on Sept. 12, 2015. (File photo by Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)

CLINTON, New York -- Julia Booth made nine saves to preserve the shutout as Hamilton College defeated the Bates College field hockey team 1-0 on Saturday, despite the Bobcats' advantages in shot attempts (20-10) and penalty corners (11-6).

Hamilton's Casey Brown scored in the first half at Hamilton's Campus Road Athletic Complex to lift the Continentals (2-0 overall, 1-0 NESCAC). Booth posted her first shutout in her second collegiate start and has a .929 save percentage and a 0.50 goals against average so far.

Brown scored her second goal in as many games and it was the 11th goal of her career for the Continentals. Margaret Revera, who also notched a goal in Hamilton's season opener against Williams, picked up the assist on Brown's goal.

The goal was scored with 24:58 left in the half as a result of the first penalty corner of the afternoon. Eva Rosencrans took the first shot, which was blocked, and Tori Stapleton corralled the rebound. Stapleton's shot was saved by Bates senior goalkeeper Cristina Vega (Needham, Mass.), who finished with four stops. Revera gained control of the loose ball and unleashed a hard shot from close range that was tipped by Brown past Vega as she stood in front of the keeper.

Bates (0-1, 0-1 NESCAC) dominated play in the second half with an 11-3 shot advantage and a 7-2 edge in penalty corners, but Booth stood tall despite the added pressure in the final 35 minutes. The Bobcats' best chance to even the score came with about 13 minutes to go following their 10th penalty corner of the day. Senior Shannon Beaton (West Newbury, Mass.) hammered a shot from the top of the arc that Booth kicked back in her direction. Beaton's follow-up shot sailed high above the cage, and Bates didn't put another shot on goal.

Bates first-year forward Jessie Moriarty (Springfield, Mass.) attempted a team-high five shots, with three of them stopped by Booth.

The Bobcats were well on their way to a win in their opener on Wednesday against Husson, but the game was stopped due to lightning late in the first half with Bates leading 4-0.

The Bobcats host Bowdoin for another NESCAC game on Tuesday at 7 p.m.