Field hockey: Auburn’s Anna and Paige Cote fueling Bates’ success

At first, Anna Cote didn’t want to follow her older sister, Paige, and continue her field hockey career at Bates College.

The two Auburn residents were teammates at St. Dominic Academy — Paige graduated in 2019 and Anna in 2021 — and were members of the Saints’ 2017 Class C state championship team.

“When I was in middle school, I think, I realized I wanted to play in college,” Anna Cote said. “I initially didn’t want to play at the same school as my sister, but I saw how much fun she was having with her team. It’s very different from other colleges in how much everyone loves this sport.”

Paige is glad her sister decided to change her mind and joined the Bobcats.

“I couldn’t be happier. I think we connect super well,” Paige Cote said. “It’s awesome to share this great experience and the game that we love. It’s just awesome to spend more time together.”

The Cotes have been key players in one of the best seasons in program history.

The Bobcats (11-4 overall, 7-3 NESCAC) are ranked eighth in the nation in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll. Their seven NESCAC wins are the most in program history, and their 11 overall wins are the most by a Bates team since 1999.

Bates has earned its highest ranking, third, at the NESCAC tournament and will be hosting a game for the first time when they face sixth-seeded Bowdoin College (10-5, 5-5) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (The game was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was moved due to the mass shootings in Lewiston on Wednesday.)

“We have had a great year, and I think that comes from my entire time here at Bates … building our team culture,” Paige Cote said. “This year, I think everyone has bought in. We are ready to finish the season on a good note.”

The sisters have been offensive catalysts for the Bobcats this season. Paige has eight goals and eight assists, and leads the team in scoring with 24 points.

Anna has scored a team-high 10 goals and has assisted on three others, giving her 23 points — the second most on the team.

Paige Cote also is the program’s record holder for career assists. She surpassed the previous mark during her junior season, and now has 31.

Paige realized while at St. Dom’s that she could play at Bates. The Cote sisters worked with Bobcats head coach Dani Kogut in youth and club field hockey programs, and during that time Paige developed a connection with Kogut.

Kogut credits Paige and the other seven seniors for elevating the program.

“That’s the legacy our seniors are leaving is they work really hard — not just change the program in terms of talent, but they have also worked to change it in terms of culture,” Kogut said. “They are a really amazing group.”

Anna said the team does a lot of work in the offseason. Kogut added Paige has transformed the weightlifting program at Bates.

Anna knew her older sister would be one of the best players Bates has ever had.

“I have never met anyone who is as committed and determined as her,” Anna said. “She works harder than anyone else I know. It’s very worthy of the awards she’s getting.”

Paige, in 2022, was a National Field Hockey Coaches Association Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-Region selection. She was a Synapse Sports Third Team All-American and NESCAC First-Team selection.

Teammate Kami Lambert of Augusta, also a senior, said she loves being on the receiving end of Paige Cote’s assists. Lambert said that she new when they were freshman that Paige was going to have a standout career for the Bobcats.

“She had the potential to be an amazing player,” Lambert said. “She has proven herself time and time again each season. I feel really lucky even to be on the field with her.

Kogut said Paige’s work ethic has been noticed by others on the Bates campus.

“She’s out here all summer, and coaches will be like, ‘Which player of yours is out on the field at 7 a.m. doing work?'” Kogut said. “It’s almost always her. She puts in a lot of time.”

Paige said she was confident that Anna also would succeed at the college level.

“That’s why I really wanted her to come play here, because I know she’s a great player,” Paige said. “She pushes everyone around her to work as hard as her.”

Kogut said the sisters are different when it comes to their preparation.

“They will say this about each other, probably, but Paige has this undeniably crazy work ethic. Anna is one of those players that goes all out,” Kogut said. “She will be one of those players that go all out and give 100 percent everything.”

Anna agrees with the coach’s assessment.

“Yeah, I think we are different,” Anna said. “We work really hard, but she focuses more on lifting and I focus more on running.”

Their hard work has paid off, especially late in the season, as they’ve helped the Bobcats win eight of their past nine games, and in some of the team’s biggest moments.

Anna has scored five of her 10 goals this season in the past four games. Paige has four goals in the past six games.

In last Sunday’s showdown with ninth-ranked Williams, Anna Cote scored twice in the second half to lift Bates to a 2-1 win. In the season finale against Colby on Tuesday, Paige scored the game-winning goal in overtime to secure the third seed at the conference tournament.