BOX SCORE

AMHERST, Mass. - Despite holding an 11-5 advantage in shots, the top-ranked two-time defending NCAA Champion Bowdoin College field hockey team lost their 2009 season opener to Amherst on Saturday, 2-0. The loss is the first for the Polar Bears on the road in nearly three years and is just the third loss in the last three seasons for the club.

Amherst sophomore Carly Dudzik scored eight minutes into the second half and junior Liz Schink added a second goal less than 11 minutes later, while reigning NESCAC Rookie of the Year Emily Vitale played an exceptional game in the cage to earn the shutout.

Bowdoin out-shot Amherst 8-1 in the opening half and had four penalty corners, but Vitale and the Lord Jeff defense could not break. The Polar Bears looked sharp and created several scoring chances in the first half. Just five minutes into the game Shavonne Lord stole the ball from an Amherst defender and quickly sent a shot toward Vitale, but her effort went just wide.

Sixteen minutes into the first half Elizabeth Clegg found Katie Herter in the circle, but her shot was saved by the Amherst goalie. Vitale came up with a diving stop just moments later to deny McKenna Teague at the doorstep. The Polar Bears continued to push late in the half and nearly scored the game's first goal with only three minutes on the clock, but Healey came up with a timely defensive save after Vitale had been pulled out of position. Emily Neilson made three saves in goal for Bowdoin.

Bowdoin had won six consecutive games against Amherst dating back to 2003. The Polar Bears last road loss came on September 23, 2006 when Williams blanked Bowdoin 1-0. Bowdoin rebounded to win the 2006 NESCAC title and reach their second of four-consecutive NCAA 'Final Fours'.