LEWISTON -- The Bates College men's soccer team scored twice in a three-minute span of the first half and went on to defeat the University of Maine at Farmington 2-1 in the Bobcats' home opener today at Russell Street Field.

The Beavers (0-2-1) are scheduled to host Unity College Saturday at Prescott Field. The match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Bates (1-1-0) pelted the visiting Beavers' goal for 20 shots in the first half, compared to zero for Farmington. But the game was still scoreless after Bates' 16th shot, by sophomore Alec Taylor (Mendham, N.J.), was blocked by a Beavers defender in the 40th minute of play. Bates first-year forward Tyler Grees (Williamstown, Mass.) was there to volley the rebound past Farmington first-year goalie Tennessee Peters (Scarborough, Maine) for a 1-0 lead and his first collegiate goal.

Less than three minutes later, Bates was awarded a penalty kick after a foul in the Beavers' penalty area, and senior captain Patrick Jackson (Durham, N.H.) fired a shot into the lower left corner of the goal for a 2-0 Bates advantage, Jackson's 13th career goal and his first of the season.

The Beavers rebounded strongly in the second half, outshooting the Bobcats 13-4 in that period. Farmington sophomore Jordan Hale (Falmouth, Maine) closed the gap to 2-1 in the 57th minute, embarking on a breakaway down the middle of the field with a Bates defender at his heels. Bates junior goalie Greg Watts (West Chester, Pa.) came forward and deflected Hale's initial shot, for his first save of the game, but the Farmington midfielder got enough of the ensuing loose ball to send it rolling past Watts and into the goal, closing the gap to 2-1. Farmington continued to threaten over the last 33 minutes, forcing Watts to make three more saves before the final horn sounded.

Peters had four saves for Farmington in the first half, and first-year Derek Reilly (Hollis-Brookline, N.H.) made one save while playing the second half in net for the Beavers.

Watts finished the game with four saves.