MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Despite two goals from Diana Schwarz '23, the Wesleyan field hockey team couldn't find an equalizer as the Cardinals fell to No. 14 ranked Bates, 3-2, from Smith Field on Sunday afternoon.
 
A scoreless first quarter wasn't without action as the Bobcats generated a 6-1 edge in shots and 3-0 advantage in penalty corners but Cardinal goalkeeper Audrey Pace '26 was equal to the task, making three saves to help keep the game scoreless after one.
 
The first goal came in the 17^th minute as Kami Lambert scored off a corner with a deflection in front. Inserted to Paige Cote on the near side, the right-handed attempt towards traffic found Lambert's stick to deflect past Pace.
 
Just 23 seconds later, in the first Wesleyan penalty corner opportunity of the game, the Cardinals took advantage on a well-executive designed play. Inserted to Melanie Lim '24, she passed right to Helen Deretchin '25 who quickly passed to Schwarz right in front. The senior forward made no mistake, knotting the score at 1-1.
 
Bates then scored an open play goal less than four minutes later, as again it was Cote finding Lambert. Cote forced a turnover in the near corner, dribbling in before rifling a pass to Lambert who deflected in her second goal of the day.
 
Taking a 2-1 lead into the halftime break, Bates scored again to create a two-goal cushion as Lambert was again involved. She forced a Cardinal turnover and then fed Ella Blum upfield who had just Pace to beat. Carrying to her right, she used her speed to get around the Cardinal goalkeeper and find the back of the cage in the 35^th minute.
 
Wesleyan didn't go away, scoring just over four minutes later as it was Schwarz again, this time in open play. Sydney Cameron '26 carried in towards the end line on the near side, centering to Annabel Cincotta '25 who managed to get a stick on the pass. The ball then deflected towards Schwarz right in front and her shot went inside the left post as the Cardinals cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Bates shifted their focus following Schwarz's second, playing very defensive-minded and putting a majority of their players back to protect the lead. The only scoring chance the Cardinals could muster was a good one as Schwarz received a pass deep in the arc and had two chances but both were turned aside by Grace Biddle.
 
Schwarz had seven of the Cardinals' eight shot attempts in the contest, six of which landing on-target. She now leads the team in points (15) and goals (five) this season. Pace finished with eight saves, giving her consecutive eight-save performances (16 total) this weekend in games against Amherst and the Bobcats.
 
Wesleyan remains at home for two games this upcoming week, starting with a non-conference showdown against Babson on Wednesday at 6 PM. The Cardinals then play host to Williams for Senior Day on Saturday at 11:30 AM.