Bates College’s Caroline Kerrigan (4) sets to shoot on Bowdoin College keeper Kayli Weiss during their game at Garcelon Field on the campus of bates Colege in Lewiston on Wednesday. Kerrigan scored Bates’ first goal on the play.

LEWISTON — The Bates College women’s lacrosse team came up just short Wednesday, missing an opportunity to tie the game as time expired in a 10-9 loss to rival Bowdoin in NESCAC action at Garcelon Field at Bates College.

Bowdoin (7-4, 4-4 NESCAC) controlled the first ten minutes of the game, getting a pair of unassisted goals from Mettler Growney and Allison Williams. The Polar Bears extended their lead to 3-0 after Kelsey Gallagher ran behind the net and passed the ball in front to Hannah Hirschfeld at the 21:45 mark.

Following a Bates timeout, Drew Barry ran the ball 25 yards in before passing it off to freshman Caroline Kerrigan, who put the Bobcats on the board.

“We don’t set up specific plays out of timeouts, but we do talk about concepts and look to attack from certain locations and try to capitalize on those situations,” Bates coach Brett Allen said. “Sometimes it works out and sometimes it just doesn’t because we either missed the shot or turned the ball over.”

Avery MacMullen got another score for the Bobcats after picking up a loose ball and scoring past Bowdoin goalie Kayli Weiss.

Growney whirled around the front of the net at the 16:18 point of half putting Bowdoin up 4-2. She was assisted by Kara Finnerty. Each team traded goals, with Bowdoin maintaining its two goal lead.

Bates’ Allison Dewey picked up a loose ball 14 yards out and rushed the goalie for score, cutting the lead to 5-4. After a game-tying goal from MacMullen, Bates made the most of their late first half opportunities getting the go ahead score from junior Teal Otley with 25 seconds remaining. They outshot the Polar Bears 16-11 in the half.

“We always expect every NESCAC game to be intense,” Bowdoin coach Liz Grote said.

The second half was no different, both teams using their aggressiveness and speed to test each teams defense.

The play of junior goalie Eliza Statile stood out for Bates. She stopped several Bowdoin attacks with either saves or deflections to keep Bates in the game. The sophomore made eight saves in net.

“She played great tonight. She was reacting really well to the ball and reacting to what the shooters were going to do,” Allen added.

The two teams traded goals throughout the second half and with the score tied 7-7, Bowdoin was able to get a pair of goals, including Hirschfeld’s third goal of the game when she stripped Statile from behind and fired a shot into the unmanned net for the 9-7 lead with under 10 minutes to play.

Each time Bates would come back with a goal to either tie it or pull within one, Bowdoin seemed to answer with scores of its own, not allowing Bates back into the game.

“We focus on team defense. We never really plan our attack for individual players. Play as a unit together, as a whole,” Grote said.

With 4:12 remaining, Bobcats leading scorer Camille Belletete scored her first goal of the night, running through defenders and shooting it past Weiss’ left side, cutting the lead to 10-9.

Weiss finished with 11 saves.

The two squads traded possessions taking the ball deep into each other’s territories with no scores. With 47 second remaining, Bowdoin received a yellow card, stopping play. That allowed Bates a chance to set up for a goal.

Nothing materialized, but then Dewey swiped the ball back again from Bowdoin with 25 seconds on the clock. The Bobcats called timeout.

Out of the break, Bates was unable to organize an attack, but with 14 seconds remaining, had one last shot for the equalizer. Tight defense forced Bates to make one more pass than it had time for. The final shot went into the cage, but only after the horn had sounded, ending the contest.

“Our team played it’s best overall game tonight. We executed our game plan well tonight as well tonight as we have against anyone, conference or non,” Allen said.

Bates College’s Sydney Cowles, left, keeps the ball away from Bowdoin College’s Caroline Maxwell during their game at Garcelon Field on the campus of bates Colege in Lewiston on Wednesday.Bowdoin College’s Kara Finnerty, left, moves past Bates College’s Camille Belletete as Belletete’s stick catches Finnerty in the neck during their game at Garcelon Field on the campus of bates Colege in Lewiston on Wednesday.Bowdoin College’s Grace DeWald, left, carries the ball past Bates College defender Teal Otley of Cumberland during their game at Garcelon Field on the campus of bates Colege in Lewiston on Wednesday.Bates College’s Sydney Cowles, left, keeps the ball away from Bowdoin College’s Caroline Maxwell during their game at Garcelon Field on the campus of bates Colege in Lewiston on Wednesday.Bowdoin College’s Allison Williams, left, and bates College’s Erin Shea battle for a ground ball during their game at Garcelon Field on the campus of bates Colege in Lewiston on Wednesday.