Women's soccer earns 1-1 tie at Wesleyan

Leah Humes' team-high third goal this season helped Bates match Wesleyan in a 1-1 tie on Sept. 26, 2015. (File photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College)

MIDDLETOWN, Connecticut  -- The Bates women's soccer team tied for the second time in as many NESCAC games this season, playing host Wesleyan University to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Senior captain Leah Humes (Beaconsfield, Quebec) scored in the 15th minute to lift Bates (3-1-2, 0-0-2 NESCAC) into a 1-0 lead. Humes shot the ball under the crossbar after getting a long cross pass from first-year Olivia Amdur (Chicago, Ill.). Humes assumed the team goals lead with three on the play, while Amdur became Bates' assist leader with three.

Sarah Sylla evened the game late in the first half, knocking in the rebound after Bates sophomore goalie Sarah McCarthy (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) saved a header sent at Bates' goal by Lauren Goetzman.

McCarthy finished with 11 saves for Bates, while Wesleyan's Meghan Hanan totaled six. The teams were even in shot attempts, 20-20, but the Cardinals put 12 of their shots on goal, compared to seven for Bates.

The two teams played a scoreless second half. The best Cardinal chance of the period came with 29:48 left on a free kick by senior Madeline Keane from the top of the box. She rocketed a shot at McCarthy, who bobbled the save but corralled the rebound.

The Bobcats a strong chance in the final two minutes when Humes ticketed one for the lower right corner, but Hanan made a sprawling stop.

The Cardinals had the two best chances to score in the first overtime, both off the foot of Victoria Matthews.  The first one came 1:30 into the OT with a rocket from 20 yards that McCarthy knocked down. The second came with 5:10 left from about 15 yards and the rebound save got away from the goalie, but the Cards were not able to follow up.

Matthews had one more opportunity in the second overtime on a breakaway with 5:04. Her attempt to tuck the ball past the diving McCarthy into the right corner hit the post. Bates had a last gasp attempt with a corner kick in the final minute, but the ball into the box by junior Erin Shea (Marshfield, Mass.) was cleared by the Wesleyan defense.

Bates stays on the road to play at conference-leading Williams (6-0, 5-0) on Sunday, starting at 11am.