LEWISTON, Maine - Bates College sophomore Tyler Dewdney curled a free direct kick around the Plymouth State University wall and into the lower right corner of the net for the winning goal Wednesday evening in a 2-1 non-conference men's soccer game at Russell Street Field.

            The loss dropped the visiting Panthers to 2-5, while Bates evened its record at 2-2.

            Dewdney (Meriden, N.H.) lined up the free kick from just outside the penalty area, about 20 yards from the Plymouth State goal, to score his first collegiate goal in the game's 80th minute.

            The teams were knotted at 1-1 for 40 minutes after trading goals in the first half. Panthers senior Pat Connolly (Newton, N.H.) scored in the 25th minute on a rocket from just inside the Bates penalty area and past Bates first-year goalkeeper Gregg Watts (West Chester, Pa.). But Bates sophomore Tim Molnar (Rocky River, Ohio) answered for the Bobcats with an equally well-struck ball that he one-timed on a loose ball from 15 yards away for his first collegiate goal.

            Plymouth State senior goalie Nick Giusto (West Islip, N.Y.) made six saves, as did Watts for Bates. The Bobcats achieved a modest advantage in shots taken, but seemed to create more scoring opportunities than the visitors overall.

            Plymouth State returns home to host rival Keene State College in a Little East Conference match-up Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Panther Field.

(Courtesy of Bates Sports Information)           

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