NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Cathleen Smith had a hand in all five goals as the Bowdoin College field hockey team advanced to the NCAA title game with a 5-0 win over Skidmore in the national semifinals on Saturday afternoon at Christopher Newport University. The Polar Bears (19-1) will face Messiah, who defeated Ursinus in the other semifinal, at 1:00 p.m. Sunday for the championship.

The Polar Bears have twice made the NCAA title game - winning in both 2007 and 2008 - while Messiah (19-2) will be looking for their first national crown after reaching their sixth title game in the last decade.

Smith tied an NCAA Tournament record with seven points in Saturday's semifinal - two goals and three assists - as the Polar Bear overwhelmed the Throughbreds in the second half. Smith scored the lone goal of the first period - just 2:28 in - when she knocked home a rebound off a Katie Herter shot. The Polar Bears then had to withstand an assault on their cage that included 11 Skidmore penalty corners. Goalkeeper Emily Neilson had six saves in the opening half and finished with nine for the game.

Herter's first goal came off a nice setup by Smith, and gave Bowdoin some breathing room at 2-0 early in the second half. First-year Olivia King made it 3-0 on a rebound before Herter converted another beautiful pass from Smith into an open net. It was Herter's 20th goal of the season.  Smith put the capper on the afternoon with 1:13 left.

Bowdoin and Messiah have met twice before - in the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Semifinals with the Falcons taking one-goal wins on both occasions to end the Polar Bears' seasons. Since losing to Messiah in the 2006 semifinals, Bowdoin has won 11 consecutive tournament matches.

Live coverage of Sunday's final will be available at this link.

Photos courtesy of Stacy Whiting Photography