The Dempsey Challenge Day

On an absolutely beautiful fall Sunday, more reminiscent of late August than mid-October, the team once again took up their post three miles from the finish of the Dempsey Challenge bike route. The Cheer Station that was such a big hit last fall torqued it up another notch this year, with some pre-planned cheers and decorated by our fancy new sign (thanks to the Newtons!)

While Suzy and I were out on the course, we kept the team apprised of a certain individual's whereabouts. After trying to hang with the group of women that included Connie Carpenter-Phinney,who won 12 national titles and four world championship medals as well as gold in the 1984 Olympics, Odessa Gunn former professional rider and Levi Leipheimer's wife, as well as Coryn Rivera and Kristin McGrath of the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12 women’s professional cycling team(which we did for a few miles), we had stopped at the second rest stop to hydrate and refuel.

While we are there, a number of lead vehicles came through followed by a group of riders that included 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Levi Leiphiemer, Tom Danielson the top-ranked American rider at the 2011 Tour de France, Davis Phinney who claimed the first victory by an American in a Tour de France stage and won bronze in the 1984 Olympics among others! Who could be in the "others" category you may ask? Well, perhaps the most famous Lewiston area native, one fabulously (mc)dreamy Patrick Dempsey. Granted, I do not have a lot of experience with t.v. and movie stars but I will say that this man is special. Not only due to the fact that he established The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing in honor of his mother who is a survivor- which should be enough, but watching him navigate the crowds of admiring fans. He seemed to have time for everyone, a photo op, an autograph and handshake and always making eye contact with everyone he spoke to. I wanted to ask him if he would please stop at mile 47 and as I approached he broke into a big smile and exclaimed,"Bates! Your team is out here somewhere." "Well, yes, yes they are and if you could stop at their Cheer station, it would mean the world to them" I managed and then Suzy and I did the requisite photo with him...the first in my adult life where my eyes are closed...awesome. Anyway, I sent a photo to the team to let them know where he was and we got back on our bikes.

Fast forward 20 miles and Suzy and I arrive at mile marker 47- The Bobcat Zone. Team is in high gear.
We know that based on his pace, Patrick is at least an hour behind us, and I am not sure that we are going to wait to see if he stops. But of course we do, wrapped up in watching the team cheer on the bikers coming through and equally enamored of the bikers reactions to being cheered for. Finally, a motorcycle pulls ups and the man tells the group that Patrick is about 5 minutes behind and gives a description of what he is wearing and tells them that he "might"stop. The electricity is palpable and each biker that crested the hill was carefully scrutinized. Finally, a veritable peloton comes into view- this is it. Will he stop???

Bobcats bite Huskies!

Kundtz, Brady lead field hockey to 4-3 win at Southern Maine




The Bobcats got back on the winning track behind the strong offensive output of the junior duo Riley Kundtz (Chagrin Falls, Ohio)and Michelle Brady (Milton, Mass.) Kundzt scored two goals and added an assist, while Brady added a goal and an assist.

Tuesday afternoon was a picture perfect fall day and the Bobcats arrived in Gorham ready to play on USM's newly finished field turf, Hannaford Field. Bates jumped all over USM in the first half putting pressure on early and often. Bates found the back of the net 12 minutes into the half when senior co-captain Kelly McManus (Plymouth, NH) carried the ball in from the 25 on the right side of the field and rifled the ball across the goal where Kundtz was waiting on the far post to redirect the ball into the goal.

Just over five minutes later, Bates grabbed a 2-0 lead when Brady knocked the ball into the net following an offensive flurry.

USM got on the board in the 24th minute as Huskies junior forward, Kailey Bubier scored an unassisted goal off of play from a free hit from just outside the 25 yard line. Bates returned the favor and grabbed a two goal lead by scoring their third goal of the half when sophomore Bridget Meedzan (Ipswich, Mass.) finished off a penalty corner. Kundtz inserted the ball to the top, it was received by senior Lyndsay Beaton(West Newbury, Mass.) who slipped it right onto McManus's stick. McManus shot for the far post, Kundz redirected it across the goal and Meedzan finished it of from the right post.

Looking a bit complacent coming out of half-time, USM pulled the within one-goal when they jumped on a ball in the circle just 1:37 seconds into the half to cut the Bobcat's lead to one.

Although, Bates rebounded to take control of play for the next 20 minutes, despite good looking chances, they were unable to score until Kundtz scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 54th minute. Kundtz's second goal of the game came when Brady took a shot that rebounded to the left side of the circle, Kundtz was able to collect it and bury it.

USM would not go silently and Bubier pulled USM to within 4-3 of the Bobcats in the 62nd minute with her second goal of the game. Keeping it exciting to the end, Bates allowed USM to earn a corner with time running down. With no time on the clock, Bates successfully defending four corners, before closing out the game once and for all.


Bates sophomore goalkeeper Becca Otley (Cumberland, Maine) made six saves for the win while USM sophomore Kayla Kennedy was kept busy turning back 13 shots.

The Bobcats will be back in action, on the road at Connecticut College on Saturday at 11 a.m. and then at home with Tufts on Sunday at noon. Check out the video coverage on Sunday at: Bates Field Hockey Webcast

STATS: Bates 4, Southern Maine 3

Dempsey Challenge Teaser

Who could that be in the approaching peleton?????

Current Bobcats nip Alumnae on Homecoming

The rain held off and Alums from the classes of '74-10 took the field against the 2011 Bobcats. Sherry Deschaine(Coach Yak) was on hand to coach the Alumnae team and led her squad to a respectable 1-2 result. Twelve alums, some of whom had showed up to see Coach Yak, but not planned on playing, were swept up in the moment and took the field anyway. The prize for percentage of participation went by the class of 2010 with 3 of 4 alums in attendance. Sema Kazarian, Annie Wilson and Zoe Donaldson all returned and looked like they hadn't taken more than a couple of months off. The next best class participation went to 2008 with Brynna Kelley, Erin Chandler and Lindsay Ferguson representing 3 of the 5 of their class.


Cindy Andrews'74, Sue Doliner'81 and Mary Rafterty '81 all managed to find some semblance of athletic wear and took the field. Kerry Coffin McQuaid was the lone alum representing the 1990's and acquitted her decade admirably- playing 28 of 30 minutes! Andrew Rahedi '03, who managed the squad for four years and was a practice player also made an appearance and along with Helena Turner'09 anchored the Alumnae defense.

All in all it was a great day and we hope that next year even more Alums will return to celebrate 45 years of Field hockey at Bates as well as honoring Sherry Deschaine's 25 years of coaching.

Photos and stats to come!

Beaton & Bobcats Blast Beavers

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates got back into winning form on Thursday evening after a rough road stretch that saw the Bobcats drop three tough games in five days. Even though two of those were to teams in the Top 15, it didn't make it any less painful. Needless to say we were happy to back on home turf this week!

The Bobcats came ready to play and perhaps feeling like they had a little something to prove on Thursday evening. They quickly took control of the ball and the play, moving down field and earning 7 penalty corners while generating 17 shots. Still it wasn't until just over 14 minutes into the half the Bates was able to find the back of the net when junior Nicole Santosuosso (Canton, Mass.) sent a ball from the the left side of the UMF circle to the far post. Senior Lyndsey Beaton (West Newbury, Mass.) Beaton beat her defender to the ball and one-timed it past the goalkeeper putting the Bobcats on the board and in the lead 1-0for a 1-0 lead. Despite a 17-3 Bates advantage in shots taken and a 7- 1 advantage in penalty corners, the score remained 1-0 at at the half.

The second half saw more of the same as Bates promptly stole the ball on UMF's passback and went in search of more scoring opportunities. Less than five minutes into the second period Senior co-captain Sarah Merullo's (Essex, Mass.)hit a ball into the circle where Beaton beat the UMF goalkeeper again by redirecting a shot into the corner of the net.

Beaton and the Bobcats dominated the second half to a even greater degree than the first, out shooting the Beavers 14-1 in the second frame while not allowing any penalty corners. Bates made it 3-0 with 7:06 remaining in the game on a penalty corner play, with sophomore Polly Merck's (Beverly, Mass.) well-place insertion pass stopped by Beaton and drilled it into the goal for her first career hat trick.

Beaton, Bates' leading scorer last season and an All-Region selection had been held scoreless in the first four games, but broke into the scoring column in a big way last night. Coach Wynn Hohlt said, "It was great for Lyndsay's confidence to finish on those plays tonight. She has a nose for the goal, but had been frustrated in out last few outings. This should give our offense a good boost!"

Hohlt was pleased by the way her team played. "We really got back to basics tonight, moving the ball quickly and for the most part appropriately using the whole field and controlling the play. We certainly benefited from getting second and third shots on net, creating scoring opportunities that we have been missing out on." She went on to credit UMF's play saying, "We always know that playing UMaine-Farmington is going to be a 70 minute game- you can't afford to let up, becasue they play hard until the end. I was proud that our team went out this evening and matched that intensity, especially since we a re bit banged up right now. It was a full team effort!"

Bates sophomore goalkeeper Becca Otley (Cumberland, Maine) made two saves for her second career shutout.


Full Stats available here

Bobcats grab first win of the season

LEWISTON, ME. The Bobcats (1-0, 1-0 NESCAC) clinched their first win of the season Saturday afternoon in a 1-0 victory over Williams (0-1, 0-1 NESCAC). Stellar play by goalkeeper, Becca Otley was instrumental in the Bates victory. Otley had 13 save in her debut, earning the shutout.

Play went back and forth for much of the first half, with neither team able to sustain attacking opportunities. While Williams had the edge in shots with 9 to the Bobcat's 4 the teams were even on penalty corners with two apiece.

The second half saw more of the same with fairly even play. Williams increased the pressure a little more than halfway through the second period, earning the majority of their six second half penalty corners in about seven minutes.

With 4:35 on the clock Bates called timeout. "We just needed to slow down and remind them of a couple of key things to look for and pay attention to." said Head Coach Wynn Hohlt. Apparently, this worked as the Bobcats took the ensuing 16yard hit and worked the ball down field and into the Eph's circle. A loose ball was gathered by sophomore Bridget Meedzan, she passed it to Junior Michelle Brady who put it into the back of the net with 4:07 to go.

While Williams continued to put pressure on the Bobcat defense, the momentum had shifted and the confidence with which Bates had been playing with earlier returned. "I am so proud of the way we played today." said Hohlt, "We had some really good passing combinations, we narrowly missed scoring on a beautifully executed corner, and we never gave up. It wasn't our prettiest hockey, but we won a lot of 50-50 balls and we just kept at it until we broke through. It is a great start to the season!"

Game Statisitcs

Here are the Bobcats!