Box Score BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin women's ice hockey team shut out visiting Nichols College 3-0 in a Wednesday evening game at Watson Arena to get off to the program's best start since 2002.
The Polar Bears keep their undefeated streak alive to improve to 3-0-2, the program's first unbeaten five-game opening stretch since 2002. The Bison suffer their third straight loss, falling to 4-8-0, in the first ever meeting between the two teams.
The Polar Bears controlled the opening period of play but were unable to convert until under two minutes remained. Chelsea MacNeil looked to put away a rebound in the 16th minute on the left post, but Lindsay O'Connell made the save, and the unprotected puck was collected in the crease and taken out of the zone. MacNeil finally put one away on that left post, poking in a rebound off Ariana Bourque's shot with 1:47 remaining.
With both teams boasting four players on the ice, Bowdoin took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period. Maddie Baird teed up a shot from above the right faceoff circle, sending her shot cross-ice towards the left corner. Miranda Bell connected with the puck and deflected the shot into Nichols' net to double Bowdoin's lead. Julia Mastrototaro looked chip away at the deficit as she took a quick shot from the doorstep on a Bison power play that soared just wide.
Following a timeout in the 18th minute of the third period, Nichols picked up the offensive pressure after pulling their goalie to put an extra skater on the ice. Beth Findley stood tall for the Polar Bears, making several key saves in the final minutes. Jessica Bowen capped the day with an empty netter with nine second remaining off a pass from Bourque behind the net.
Findley played all 60 minutes for the Polar Bears, making 15 saves to earn her second career shutout. O'Connell stopped 29 shots for the Bison. Bowdoin outshot the visitors by a 32-15 margin.
The Bison are off until 2015, returning to the ice January 17 for a 7:00 p.m. game at Franklin Pierce. Bowdoin continues its home stand with a 1:00 p.m. against St. Anselm on Saturday afternoon.
