BRUNSWICK, Maine – The top seeded Bowdoin field hockey team used a three goal opening half to eliminate Bates 4-1 from the NESCAC tournament.

Bowdoin (16-0) received its first goal of the game 2:44 into play from senior Rachel Kennedy who set a new school record with her 93rd career goal. Kennedy eclipsed the 92 goal mark set by Lindsay McNamara in 2008, and now sits at 94 all-time goals following a pair against Bates. The Bobcats (7-9) reached their first NESCAC playoff since 2010 after clinching the eight seed with a 1-0 win against Colby.

How It Happened

• Kennedy's first goal of the game came under three minutes into play, finishing off a feed from Liz Znamierowski who worked the ball down the right line. Once she was inside the 25, Znamierowski found Kennedy at the top of the circle and swept a pass in that direction. Kennedy connected with the ball and worked around a defender before finding the short side of the net for her 93^rd career tally.
• Bates tied the game in the 13^th minute, capitalizing on the team's first penalty corner of the game. Lauren Foster inserted the ball directly to Jessie Moriarty who waited at the top of the circle. Moriarty lined up for a direct shot on goal and watched as her ball deflected off a stick and into the back of Bowdoin's net.
• The game remained tied for under four minutes as Kimmy Ganong tipped a Kelsey Mullaney shot on Bowdoin's next penalty corner. With Mullaney driving from the top of the circle, Ganong stepped in from of the left post and deflected a shot around Bates keeper Cristina Vega.
• Bowdoin scored 24 seconds later off Kennedy's second goal of the game. Mettler Growney set up the play as she carried through Bates' defensive end and found Kennedy with a through pass.
• The Bates defense stifled the Polar Bears' attack with a pair of key back-to-back ground saves from Vega and a defensive save by Foster in the second half. Bowdoin scored its final goal of the game with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. Nicole Barbieri broke through for Bowdoin on a breakaway pass from Kennedy. The first-year had a one-on-goal opportunity that she converted on with a drive to the right post.
• Bowdoin held a slight edge in penalty corners with a 5-4 margin over the Bobcats, but outshot the visitors by a 14-5 advantage. Vega ended the day with six saves while Clara Belitz stopped a pair for Bowdoin.

Up Next

• The top-ranked Polar Bears are set to host the NESCAC Championship next weekend, with the semifinals being played on Saturday. Bowdoin will face fourth-seeded Amherst at 11:00 a.m.