BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College field hockey team recovered from an early deficit to take a 4-2 victory over the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday evening at Ryan Field. The fourth-ranked Polar Bears improved to 3-0 this season while the Huskies fall to 4-4.

Bowdoin mounted a 43-shot attack and held a 26-0 edge in penalty corners, but had trouble beating Southern Maine netminder Kayla Kennedy, who stopped 17 shots in the contest. After dominating in the early going, the Polar Bears surrendered a transition opportunity to the Huskies in the 17th minute as Becka Sarson entered the ball into the circle from the left wing. Ariel Kaplan redirected the ball past Bowdoin's Kayla Lessard to give the Huskies their first goal against Bowdoin since 2003 and a 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game.

The Polar Bears wasted little time answering, taking the ensuing re-start immediately downfield, where Cathleen Smith put home a rebound to tie the game just 34 seconds later. Bowdoin claimed its first lead of the game at 21:31 when Smith tipped a long ball from Emily French into the top corner of the cage to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage.

The Polar Bears upped their lead to 3-1 at 48:56 when Ella Curren finished off a penalty corner with a hard shot from the top of the circle. The goal proved important as Southern Maine replied just 24 ticks later as Kaplan's second goal of the match finished off a scrum in front to close the gap to 3-2 with 21:40 remaining. Bowdoin's Katie Herter notched an insurance goal at 54:15, however, to give the Polar Bears a two-goal cushion they would not surrender.

In addition to Kennedy's 17 saves, Eryn Nelson had three defensive saves for the Huskies. Bowdoin's Kayla Lessard was credited with zero saves in the win.