BOX SCORE

AMHERST, Mass. - The Bowdoin College women's ice hockey team saw their season come to a close in heartbreaking setback to Amherst in the NESCAC Semifinals Saturday afternoon, 3-2, in overtime. The Polar Bears finish their year with a record of 12-2-2.

Bowdoin carried a 1-0 lead into the third period after Michaela Calnan's first period goal. Calnan took a slap shot from the right point that looked as though it would be controlled by an Amherst defender, but redirected past Caroline Hu and into the top corner. Assists on the goal were awarded to Kim Tess-Wanat and Dominque Lozzi.

Meanwhile, Bowdoin's Kayla Lessard kept her team in the game, stopping 35 shots in the first two periods.

The Polar Bears doubled their lead Early in the third period on an Amherst power play. Bowdoin's Kayte Holtz made a momentum-swinging play. Holtz intercepted a pass from one defensemen to another, and broke in alone on Hu for a shorthanded chance. Holtz made a quick move as she hit the top of Hu's crease, and slid a shot five hole to put Bowdoin up 2-0.

Less than two minutes later, Amherst finally broke through, still on the power play. On a shot from Randi Zukas straight away, Hanlon redirected the puck past Lessard. A second assist on the score went to Stephanie Clegg. The score cut Bowdoin's lead to 2-1, with over 16 minutes remaining in the third.

Amherst's equalizer came off an even-strength face-off to Lessard's right with 11:24 left in the third. Kate Dennett won the face-off cleanly back to Hanlon, who with a hard wrist shot beat Lessard glove side to tie the game 2-2. With just four minutes remaining, Hu made a great stop, stoning a Polar Bear player with a glove save on a two-on-one rush. Regulation came to a close with the two teams deadlocked at 2-2.

Seven minutes into overtime, Amherst was called for back-to-back penalties just 44 seconds apart, giving the Polar Bears a five-on-three power play for 1:16. Bowdoin had a shot at a game-winner, as a rebound squirted to an open Stephanie Ludy on the doorstep. Hu dove with her stick extended and pushed Ludy's bid off the post to help Amherst kill off both penalties without surrendering a score.

With 8:46 remaining in the overtime session, Amherst got the game-winner from Lloyd. Once again, Amherst's score was triggered by a clean face-off win, this time by Emily Vitale, setting up Geneva Lloyd for a top-shelf goal.

Lessard was outstanding, stopping 49 shots in the defeat for Bowdoin.