Waterville, Maine - The inaugural season for Head Coach Jake Bernhardt at Colby comes to an end taking a home win against Bates to end the season with a 6-8 overall record. The Mules defeated their in-state rivals 14-11, ending their NESCAC conference play at 2-8.

Nothing could separate these two sides–almost all game. Six lead changes and ten ties made for intense back-and-forth action and tested Colby down the stretch. However, there was nothing new to start the game as top scorers Gavin Rothenberg and Cormac O'Neill got on the score sheet. O'Neill grabbed two in the first quarter and another in the second to round out his hat trick. Matt Stein also had a strong first half, not only assisting O'Neill and Rothenberg but grabbing an unassisted goal of his own. Evan DeVita took Colby up 6-5 in the second but the Mules conceded late on to end the half level at 6.

Coming out of the break nothing could split the two sides. For four points straight, Colby went up just for Bates to bring it back level. Bennett Goller opened the scoring, prompting a strong quarter form Colby with four goals from 14 shots. In the fourth quarter, the Mules finally broke the back-and-forth scoring led by a season's first goal from Jackson Alvord, a second from Goller, and Rothenberg's third. Bates pulled one back but Jack Bowen sealed the game with his first of the year. Senior Matt Suffredini got the nod in goal and came up with 10 saves to end his final season.

For Bernhardt, next year looks even brighter with a young team that will only improve. The former two-time national champion runner-up knows how to win, so there's no doubt Colby Men's Lacrosse will be one to look out for next season.