LEWISTON, Maine - The Bates College men's soccer team defeated visiting Plymouth State University on Wednesday at Russell Street Field, outdistancing the Panthers 3-1 in a non-league contest.

            Bates (3-6-1) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute and added scores in the 36th and 88th minutes before Plymouth State (4-5-1) averted the shutout with nine seconds remaining in the game.

            Bates senior Patrick Grater (Mystic, Conn.) scored his third goal of the season to make it 1-0, taking a pass from sophomore Patrick King (Gorham, Maine) and firing from the top of the penalty area past Plymouth State junior goalie Nick Giusto's (West Islip, N.Y.) left.

            Senior Brent Morin (Hanover, N.H.) made it 2-0 in the 36th minute, as sophomore Rob Friedlander (Hopkinton, N.H.) found a wide-open Morin on a cross for an easy knock-in. Bates senior Duane Pelz (Boulder, Colo.) converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute to make it 3-0, retying Grater for the team lead with his third goal.

            Plymouth State senior Keith Whittemore (Holderness, N.H.) scored his team-high fourth goal in the final minute of play, knocking in the rebound of an Aaron Schleicher (Londonderry, N.H.) save after a Panther corner kick.

            Giusto made his first start in goal this season, turning away five Bates shots.

            The Panthers return to Little East Conference play on Saturday, hosting Rhode Island College at 4:00 p.m. Bates plays at NESCAC foe Wesleyan University Saturday at 11 a.m.

(Courtesy of Bates Sports Information)

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