BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College women's ice hockey team suffered their first loss of the season in a tight 1-0 defeat to nationally-ranked Norwich on Sunday evening.

The Polar Bears fall to 3-1-2 on the season, as the Cadets pick up their eighth-straight win to improve to 8-1-1.

After Norwich controlled the opening minutes of play, Bowdoin answered with a few minutes of offensive pressure, but it was the Cadets who scored with 8: 37 remaining in the first period. Erin Joyce started the play with a shot from close range with Lan Crofton making the initial save. The rebound deflected towards the left post where Kaycie Anderson waited to stuff in the only goal of the game.

The Cadets were unable to convert on the power play against Bowdoin's defense, the second-ranked penalty kill in the country, despite back-to-back opportunities in the second period. Norwich put the puck on goal 11 times in the middle frame, but it was a shot from Kimmy Ganong at the blue line that looked to change the scoreboard. Ripping a shot from the left point, Ganong's bid rattled around between the pads of Loren Carrier but couldn't find its way over the goal line.

Bowdoin matched the Cadets with ten shots on goal in the final frame, but were unable to even the score. Crofton kept her team in the mix coming up with a kick save off a shot from Maki Shuchuk on the left side. Bowdoin peppered the Norwich defense with shots in the final two minutes, trying to take advantage of a sixth skater with the goalie pulled.

Crofton made 28 saves in net for the Polar Bears, while Carrier stopped 19 shots for Norwich.

The Polar Bears are off until the new year as they travel to the midwest for a pair of games. Bowdoin faces St. Thomas (Minn.) on January 2 at 8:00 p.m. The Cadets are off until January 9, with a return to home ice in a 3:30 p.m. game against Utica.