BOX SCORE

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Bowdoin scored three goals in a 1:58 span in the second period on its way to a 4-2 upset victory over seventh-ranked Middlebury in Kenyon Arena. The Polar Bears (11-10-2, 8-6-1) pick up their first victory over the Panthers (14-6-3, 10-4-1) in the last 12 meetings between the schools dating back to February of 2005. The Polar Bears will travel to Williams on Saturday, needing a win to secure a NESCAC quarterfinal home contest.

Each team failed on power play opportunities early in the first period, before a pair of end-to-end chances with 6:00 left. Bowdoin's Dominque Lizzi made a nice feed to Kim Tess-Wanat that hit the pipe, while Kayla Lessard denied Middlebury's Grace Waters breaking in all alone on the other end of the ice. The Polar Bears had a great chance to take the lead in the final minute when Shelagh Merrill blocked a shot and broke in all alone shorthanded, but her backhander was partially saved by Alexi Bloom (13 saves) before it hit the pipe. Middlebury came right back down the ice as Maria Bourdeau found Libby Miner for her second of the year on the power play.

Miner struck again at 8:23 of the second, converting a great feed from Molly Downey behind the goal, giving the Panthers a 2-0 advantage. Middlebury went on the power play at 9:18, only to see the Polar Bears scored twice shorthanded in a span of six seconds. The first came when Jill Campbell scored her seventh of the year on a breakaway with a backhander. Kayte Holtz netted her 14th of year on the ensuing face-off, snapping a quick shot into the back of the net at 10:42. Less than two minutes later, the Polar Bears took their first lead of the game, when Lizzi scored from the top of the right face-off circle. The Panthers ended the period with a 28-10 shots advantage in the game, but trailed 3-2.

Ashley Bairos nearly tied the game 2:28 into the third period, but Lessard denied her on a breakaway. The Polar Bears gained a bit of breathing room one minute later, when Merrill scored her team-leading 15th goal of the year with a wrister from the left wing. Middlebury put 18 shots on the Bowdoin net in the third period, but the Polar Bear defense held strong behind 18 saves in the period from Lessard (44 saves), on their way to the 4-2 win.