'LEWISTON, Maine (Sept. 6, 2003) - Sarah Overmyer scored three goals and added an assist, all on penalty corners, to lead the Bates College field hockey team to a 6-2 win over Keene State in the first game of the season for both teams on Bates' Campus Avenue Field on Saturday afternoon.

All three of Overmyer's goals were set up by senior midfielder Annie Schauer (Louisville, Ky.). Lori Jessup started all three corners, which Schauer stopped, then rolled to Overmyer who fired all three goals past Keene State goalkeeper Michelle Codding. The Bobcats scored on 5-of-12 penalty corner opportunities, and held Keene State scoreless on six corners.

Samara Khalique got the Bobcats going early, breaking through the Owls defense to score a field goal just 3:34 into the first half. Schauer gave Bates a 2-0 lead just over four minutes later, scoring unassisted on a penalty corner.

Overmyer (Ann Arbor, Mich.) scored the third goal for Bates, then added an assist on a goal by Brooke Anable early in the second half to give Bates a 4-0 lead. Tanya Strong scored two goals in a span of just 1:11 to cut the lead to two before Overmyer scored the final two goals of the game.

A junior back, Overmyer started all 15 games for the Bobcats last season, but tallied just two career points on two assists entering the season.

Sarah Judice made 10 saves for Bates, while Codding stopped 10 shots for the Owls.

Keene State (1-0) will face Springfield on Wednesday in their home opener, while the Bobcats (1-0) will open the New England Small College Athletic Conference schedule next Saturday at Colby.