Despite its loss to top-seeded Tufts earlier in the season, the Bowdoin Field Hockey Team rallied in the NESCAC tournament behind junior Kara Kelley, beating Tufts 1-0 and winning its fourth consecutive NESCAC championship. The Bears also took care of Middlebury 4-0 in the semifinals of the tournament.
"This past weekend was pivotal for our team. Facing two of the toughest teams in the league forced us to elevate our own play to a new level," said goalkeeper Emily Neilson '11.
In their previous meeting this season, the Jumbos defeated the Polar Bears on Ryan Field to earn NESCAC hosting honors. However, Bowdoin was able to step up its level of play and return the favor in the championship game last Sunday, ending Tufts's 13-game win streak.
The lone goal in the victory came courtesy of some nifty stick work and determination in front of the net. Kelley fought through defenders to gain control of a rebound and then was able to pop the ball over the sprawling goalie with 4:14 left in the first half.
Despite the best efforts from the Tufts offense, the Polar Bears played a disciplined defensive game for the entirety of the second half, allowing only three shots.
With the win, Bowdoin defended its NESCAC title and earned a berth to the NCAA tournament, held this weekend on the home turf of Ryan Field. The Bears had a bye in the first round.
After the Bears' championship win, a number of individuals on the Bowdoin team received individual awards. Lindsay McNamara '09 received the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year and a spot on the NESCAC All-Conference First Team. McNamara won NESCAC Player of the Year in 2007.
Joining McNamara on the All-Conference First Team was fellow senior Julia King. Kelley received NESCAC Player of the Week for her tournament efforts.
Before the Polar Bears were able to play for the championship, they had to take on the Middlebury Panthers in the NESCAC semifinal game last Saturday.
The rivalry felt between these two field hockey giants never produces a game short of extraordinary, and the postseason atmosphere added to the excitement.
Bowdoin dominated the first half of the contest, scoring two goals and keeping Middlebury from recording a single shot on net.
The first Polar Bear goal came off a penalty corner opportunity with 10:58 remaining before halftime. King fed a hard pass to McNamara positioned just off the left post for the stuff between the legs of Panthers goaltender, Caitlin Pentifallo.
Insurance came with 4:55 left in the first half. Shannon Malloy '11 drove a free hit into the scoring circle where King was anchored between defenders for the deflection into the back of the cage.
With a two-goal advantage and momentum on their side, the Polar Bears started off the second half with a level of intensity that Middlebury was unable to match.
It took just under four minutes for Bowdoin to extend its lead to three. Madeleine McQueeney '09 tipped a ball into the air toward the front of the goal and McNamara knocked it into the upper portion of the net.
The final nail in Middlebury's coffin came 10 minutes later. McNamara hustled after a loose ball and just barely saved it from crossing the end line. The ball snuck between the post and the Middlebury goaltender and stalled on the goal line until McQueeney poked it into the cage.
Bowdoin is now 8-0 against the Panthers over the last four years, outscoring Middlebury 20-7. This Saturday the Polar Bears will face the Stevens Institute Ducks of Hoboken, N.J. at 11 a.m. on Ryan Field. The Ducks are 19-3 on the season and have four forwards in the Empire 8 conference's top-10 goal scorers.
On Sunday, the winner of the Bowdoin-Stevens contest will face the winner from the Middlebury-Lebanon Valley game and play for a ticket to the 2008 NCAA Division-III Final Four, hosted by Ursinus College.
"We are obviously delighted to be hosting the second and third round games at Bowdoin," said Head Coach Nicky Pearson. "There will be four talented teams here, including three from last year's Final Four, which should provide some exciting field hockey."