Successfully defending its title in double overtime, the Bowdoin Field Hockey Team became the fourth team in DIII history to win back-to-back national championships. The Polar Bears collided with Ursinus College on November 22 and then stepped up against Tufts University on November 23 on their path to victory.
The Polar Bears' opponent in the NCAA championship game was a familiar one, facing Tufts for the third time this season.
The Jumbos came out strong and put Bowdoin down a goal just 1:13 into the game when Tamara Brown '11 tipped in a shot from Margi Scholtes '10.
The Polar Bears answered the Tufts challenge immediately when Madeleine McQueeney '09 stuffed in a rebound in front of the net at 2:38.
Shavonne Lord '10 added to Bowdoin's momentum eight minutes later. Kara Kelley '10 blasted a shot toward the goal and Lord slipped the rebound past the Tufts netminder.
The Polar Bears controlled the play for the remainder of the half, but the Jumbos came out in the second half with a newfound intensity that put Bowdoin on the defensive.
Emileigh Mercer '09 put up a wall in front of the Bowdoin goal and made six saves in the second half to maintain the Polar Bears' lead.
However, Tufts applied a tremendous amount of pressure to the Polar Bears, and Brown again was able to find the back of the cage to tie the game at 49:54 and keep the Jumbos' title dreams alive.
The end of regulation found the score still knotted at two and therefore the game would have to be decided within the dramatics of overtime. The Polar Bears outshot Tufts four to one in the first overtime period and Lindsay McNamara '09 rang the post in the final 14 seconds, but Bowdoin was unable to fire one past Marianna Zak '12.
With the goalies holding strong, the game went into double overtime. Katie Herter '12 carried the ball down the left side of the field and crushed a shot that hit the goaltender's pads and fell at McNamara's feet for the finish at 87:02.
McNamara and Herter were tackled to the turf by their charging teammates in celebration of the spectacular victory, and the NCAA championship trophy was presented to the pile of cheering athletes.
"Tufts is a talented team and playing them again was definitely a challenge, but our experience and determination enabled us to go the extra mile and finish what we set out to do," said Leah Ferenc '09. "It was a total team effort and the best way to end the season. I am extremely proud to be a part of Bowdoin field hockey."
Prior to the championship game, the Polar Bears had to battle hard against a tenacious Ursinus College team to pull out a 3-2 win.
Julia King '09, McNamara and Herter all found the back of the net for Bowdoin. Mercer was called on to make eight saves and the Bowdoin defense played a disciplined and smart game to keep Ursinus to two.
In addition to the 2008 NCAA title, Ferenc, Mercer, McNamara and Kelley earned All-Tournament honors. Ferenc, King and McNamara also added All-American honors to their already impressive field hockey resumes.
"We are absolutely delighted to win the national championship," said Coach Nicky Pearson. "We had a massive target on our backs this year, every team wanted to beat us. We had a few bumps along the way but rebounding ultimately showed the talent, determination and resilience that this team possesses."
Pearson has guided the Polar Bears to four straight NCAA Final Four appearances and she has been the only Bowdoin coach to bring back the title.
"I feel so lucky to have played for Nicky for the past four years," King said.