CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - With just 15 seconds left to play in regulation, Bowdoin College first-year Moctar Niang headed home the game winning goal to send the Polar Bears over Plattsburgh State University, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Steinbrenner Stadium on the campus of MIT.

The Polar Bears (11-3-4) advance to Sunday's regional final against MIT, scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

How It Happened

• At the 89:45 mark of the contest, Polar Bears' senior Hunter Miller was awarded a corner kick. Miller booted the ball towards net where the entire Bowdoin line was waiting. Niang connected with the set piece and headed it into the top left corner of the net for the 1-0 victory.
• The first round matchup was a back and forth affair as Plattsburgh out-shot Bowdoin by a 5-2 margin over the opening 45 minutes of action
• The Cardinals had their best chance of the first half at the 23:56 mark. Senior Shaq Jackson-Lee and classmate Ethan Votraw fired back-to-back shots towards the net, but the Bowdoin back line blocked both opportunities down.
• The second stanza was tilted in favor of the Polar Bears, as Bowdoin outshot Plattsburgh, 10-1. 
• Bowdoin nearly got on the board at the 62:15 mark as junior Matt Dias Costa headed his own shot towards Plattsburgh senior net minder Mitchell Jordan dove for the save, keeping the score even at 0-0. 
• Plattsburgh's only shot of the second half came with 18 minutes to play as sophomore Jon Cabeca fired the ball to the box, but it was blocked down by the Bowdoin defenders. 
• With the game still scoreless with just a minute to play the duo of Niang and Miller were the difference as Niang's header was the game winner for Bowdoin
• Stevie Van Siclen made on save for Bowdoin, who have allowed one goal in their last eight games dating back to October 17
• The Polar Bears outshot the Cardinals by a 12-6 margin and held a 6-0 differential in corner kicks.

Up Next

• Bowdoin will play MIT in the second round tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Steinbrenner Stadium
• Plattsburgh State sees its season come to a close at 14-5-3 overall.