BRUNSWICK, Maine - Kayla Lessard made 38 saves as the Bowdoin College women's ice hockey skated to a 2-2 tie with Amherst on Senior Day at Watson Arena Saturday.
The Polar Bears move to 11-9-4 (9-6-1 NESCAC) while Amherst stands at 19-4-1 (13-2-1 NESCAC). The tie clinched the third seed in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament for Bowdoin, who will host sixth-seeded Williams next Saturday, February 25 at 1:00 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Ticket information is available below. Amherst has secured the second seed and will host seventh-seeded Connecticut College next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Bowdoin skated to a two-goal lead in the opening period, starting when Kim Tess-Wanat picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, creating a 2-1 advantage and fed Kayte Holtz with a nice cross-ice pass for a goal at 8:17. Dominique Lozzi picked up a loose puck behind the net and beat Amherst's Sinead Murphy with a backhanded shot at 11:21 to double the Polar Bear lead.
The Jeffs peppered the net in the second period, taking 20 shots and were able to tie the score with a pair of tallies. Emily Flom blasted a slap shot past Kayla Lessard at 4:34 and Amherst tied the game at two with a goal by Emily Vitale, who banged home a rebound at 13:34. Amherst continued the offensive pressure in the third frame, pinning the Polar Bears in their defensive zone for long stretches of time. Lessard was outstanding, making many big saves to keep the game tied at two.
Lessard made 30 of her 38 saves in the final two frams and overtime. Sinead Murphy had 17 saves for the Jeffs.
Next Saturday's quarterfinal between the Bowdoin and Williams women will be the opener of a NESCAC Tournament doubleheader at Watson Arena with the Bowdoin men hosting Trinity in the nightcap at 4:00 p.m. One ticket will be good for both games with prices being $3 for adults, $1 for children under 18 and free for Bowdoin students with ID. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning in the Athletic Department office on the second floor of the Peter Buck Center.
Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photography.
