The Bowdoin Field Hockey Team suffered its first NESCAC Tournament loss since 2004 on Saturday following late-game heroics from the Trinity College Bantams. The 2-1 semifinals loss put an end to the postseason for the Polar Bears and kept them out of the NCAA tournament for the first time in the past four seasons.
The back-and-forth action of the first half left both teams locked at zero heading into halftime, but the tie did not last for long.
The Polar Bears increased the pressure for the second half and it paid off at 48:43 when senior co-captain Shavonne Lord propelled a shot from the right side of the net. The shot ricocheted off of the Trinity goalie and landed directly onto the stick of Ingrid Oelschlager '11 for the slam into the back of the cage.
Bowdoin was able to maintain the 1-0 lead until the last eight minutes when Bantam defender Maggie Epstein slid a pass up to Carrie Wolcott, who then smacked the ball into the goal.
With just 20 seconds remaining in the game, Trinity's Robyn Williams collected the ball at the midfield line and fed a pass ahead to Christy Bradley, charging down the sideline. Bradley maneuvered the ball to the right of the net and delivered a pass to the front of the goalmouth.
A foot-race to the loose ball ensued and Trinity's Payson Sword beat out the Polar Bear defenders to launch a shot past the Bowdoin goalkeeper with just eight seconds left on the clock.
The stunning come-from-behind victory gave the Bantams a ticket to the NESCAC Championship game, in which they fell to the Tufts Jumbos 3-2, settling for second place.
With the loss, the Polar Bears had to wait anxiously for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night. Unfortunately, the NCAA did not invite the two-time defending National Champions to this year's tournament and Bowdoin's 2009 field hockey season came to an end.
On Wednesday, the NESCAC announced its selections to the All-Conference teams. The four goals and six assists from Oelschlager '11, as well as her dynamic playmaking abilities, earned her a spot on the first-team all-conference.
Bowdoin's leading goal scorer Ella Curren '12 garnered second-team all-conference honors with nine goals and one assist in the 16 games of the 2009 season.
The team's four graduating seniors will leave major shoes to fill on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball.
The senior class of the 2009 field hockey season is one of the most successful classes in Bowdoin field hockey history, ending their reign with an overall record of 66-10. During their four years, the Polar Bears dominated the NESCAC with three consecutive championship titles from 2006-2008.
Additionally, they earned three tickets to the NCAA tournament and brought Bowdoin its first two NCAA Championship titles in 2007 and 2008, going undefeated en route to the 2007 title.
"The senior leadership this season was a major component of our team's success," said Katie Herter '12. "They used their skills, experience and heart to lead by example and encourage everyone to play their best everyday."