BOX
SCORE
MEDFORD, Mass. - The Bowdoin College field hockey team won their
fourth-straight NESCAC title on Sunday, defeating
previously-unbeaten Tufts 1-0. The Polar Bears (15-2) claim the
conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament while Tufts will
await an at-large bid when pairings are announced Sunday
evening.
The lone goal came after a Bowdoin penalty corner attempt late
in the first half. Junior Kara Kelley hit the corner and then
joined the scrum in front of the Tufts net. She was perfectly
positioned at the left post to push the ball into the cage when it
squirted free with 4:14 on the clock. The tally was her second of
the season.
The fourth-ranked Polar Bears gave #2 in the nation Tufts (16-1)
its first loss of the season. Bowdoin gains the conference's
automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, where they will defend
the national title that they won last fall. The Jumbos await an
at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. Tufts and Bowdoin were the
first and second seeds in the NESCAC Tournament, respectively.
The Bowdoin defense shut down Tufts, which entered the game as
the top scoring team in the conference. Likewise, Tufts did a good
job containing Bowdoin. The Polar Bears finished with a 9-3
advantage in shots. The Jumbos posted a 5-3 edge in penalty
corners. Goalkeepers in the game combined for just three saves.
The visitors controlled play in the first half, preventing Tufts
from even attempting a shot. Polar Bear leading scorer Lindsay
McNamara hit a post in the middle of the half, one of six Bowdoin
shot attempts in the first 35 minutes.
Tufts had more possession in the second half, putting its lone
shot on net from a difficult angle by senior tri-captain Marlee
Kutcher. The Jumbos had all five of their corners in the second
half. On their final corner, leading scorer Tamara Brown got her
stick on a shot, but it deflected just wide.
Senior starter Emileigh Mercer, though she did not see a shot,
earned the win by virtue of Bowdoin's goal in the first half.
Sophomore Emily Neilson came on for the second half, played among
more pressure in front of the Bowdoin cage, and made one save to
preserve the win. Tufts first-year Marianna Zak recorded two saves
in the game.
Bowdoin's eight-member senior class earns their fourth
conference title as the Polar Bears now have five overall to lead
all NESCAC programs. In all, Bowdoin's seniors finish an astounding
9-0 all-time in NESCAC Tournament play.
