Waterville, Maine - The last game of Colby's 2024 season was an absolute classic. It had goals, fire, and drama as both teams committed everything they had to grab a result. After a strong first half from the Mules, Bates stormed back in the second half and grabbed a late tie. The 3-3 final scoreline put Colby's record at 6-8-1 overall and 1-8-1 in NESCAC conference play. 

The game couldn't have started better for the Mules as Oliver Daboo found Mario Simoes just after the ten-minute mark to open the scoring. The full-back and senior striker combined for his tenth goal of the season off a brilliantly worked ball over the defense into Simoes' stride. Only three minutes later, Daboo was on the other end of the scoring as he grabbed a goal of his own. Theo Scott caught Bates' right back sleeping and played a diagonal driven ball to find Daboo, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner for his first goal of the season. Colby then played more defensive, springing counterattacks and aiming to counter-press to pin the Bobcats in their own half. They held a 2-0 lead heading into the half.

Coming out of the break, the back and forth began. Bates got an early goal seven minutes after the restart but Colby responded two minutes later. Daboo and Simoes were the culprits yet again as the former floated in a beautiful cross giving the Brazilian striker the task of guiding the ball into the far corner that he made look effortless. Then it was all Bates. The Bobcats registered 14 shots in the second half, drawing within a goal right before the sixty-fifth minute. The Mules didn't register a shot from the fifty-ninth minute onward but looked sure-footed in defense. Then, in the most unfortunate of chances, Bates' left-back struck a half volley from outside the box that glanced off the left post and hit the back of the net. The goal was stunning, but unfortunately, Colby was denied a coveted win over their rivals. The Mules held their own in the second half, responding brilliantly to Bates' first goal and then looking well-drilled defensively as they kept out everything but a strike you see once a year in college soccer.

Colby's inaugural season with Head Coach Greg Cumpstone now comes to a close but with all but three starters returning next year, the future looks bright.