BOX SCORE

BRUNSWICK, Maine - In a battle between the nation's top two teams, the Bowdoin College field hockey team claimed a 2-0 victory over rival Middlebury on Saturday at Ryan Field. The top-ranked Polar Bears (9-0, 5-0 NESCAC) claimed the rematch of the 2007 NCAA Division III Championship game thanks to a pair of goals from senior captain Lindsay McNamara to earn their 38th straight home win and 29th consecutive win overall. Second-ranked Middlebury falls for the first time this season and drops to 6-1 (3-1 NESCAC) on the year.

With Bowdoin carrying momentum out of the gate, Middlebury netminder Caitlin Pentifallo made several saves in the early going to keep the game deadlocked, including four in the opening 10 minutes. Middlebury responded with a pair of chances, both swept aside by Bowdoin's Emileigh Mercer. The Polar Bears controlled the pace of play for much of the half, however, and on their 10th penalty corner of the opening stanza, broke through. Julia King ripped a shot from the top of the circle that was redirected in front by Lindsay McNamara to give Bowdoin a 1-0 lead 25:58 into the game.

The Polar Bears carried the lead through intermission into the second half and doubled their lead on virtually the same play. King fired a shot from the circle that McNamara tipped in front past Pentifallo to make it 2-0 with just 13:20 remaining. Middlebury held a 5-4 edge in corners in the second half, but Bowdoin's second goaltender of the day, Emily Neilson, saved both shots she faced to preserve the win.

Pentifallo stopped seven shots in defeat for the Panthers, who have lost seven straight to Bowdoin dating back to 2005. The Polar Bears held a 20-6 advantage in shots and 15-7 lead in penalty corners for the game. The Polar Bears have outscored their opponents 32-1 this season.