Box Score LEWISTON, ME – Thomas was unable to find the back of the net for just third time this season, being defeated by Bates College 1-0 in a non-conference men's soccer match on Wednesday night.
The Bobcats (2-5-2) won for the first time since the season opener against Maine Maritime on Sept. 3 and snapped a three-game skid, while Thomas dipped under the .500 mark at 5-6-1.
Bates junior Nick Ford lofted a free kick from 35 yards out into the face of the Thomas goal with 30:45 remaining in the game. Matt DiVite got the top of his head on the ball, where it flicked toward the left post. Dan Remillard was there to finish off the play in front of Thomas senior goalkeeper Mikkail Crockwell.
The action didn't stop there, as both teams mounted scoring threats in the game' remaining time. Just a minute after the goal, Ford blasted a shot off the right goalpost that almost gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage.
With 15:03 left in the game, Thomas sophomore Tre Ming made a run and crossed it to the Bates goal, where a defender nearly knocked directed into a game-tying score. Three minutes later, Guled Guled stepped into a 40-yard shot that was tipped away by a Bates player, resulting in a Thomas corner kick.
Bates had a 9-5 edge in shots in the scoreless first half, 3-1 in shots on goal. The Bobcats first threatened when Pereira made a tackle, carried up the left wing and crossed to Ford, who beat his defender to get a foot on the ball but pushed it wide right.
Thomas responded with a pair of threatening one-man runs, one each by Ming and Ali Pak, but they were foiled by Bates' defense before they could get shots off.
With 12:10 remaining, Thomas' Dakota Duplissie got isolated with only Bates senior back Dan Remillard between him and Bates' goal. A one-on-one move freed up a hard shot for Duplissie, but it headed right at well-positioned Joe Maffly-Kipp in net.
Crockwell made six saves for Thomas, while Maffly-Kipp turned away two shots in earning the shutout, behind a 20-9 Bates advantage in shots.
The Terriers will host Johnson State on Saturday at 3:30pm in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action.
COURTESY OF BATES SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
