LEXINGTON, Va. – The Bowdoin field hockey team suffered its first loss of the season to Middlebury in the NCAA Division III Championship as the Polar Bears were shut out for the only time this season in a 1-0 decision on the campus of Washington & Lee University.

The Polar Bears end 2015 with a 21-1 record, while the Panthers earn their first NCAA title since 1998 at 20-2. Bowdoin defeated Middlebury twice prior to Sunday's final with the Polar Bears earning two 2-1 wins in the regular season and NESCAC Championship.

How It Happened

• While Middlebury had the first corner of the game, it was Bowdoin who had the first promising scoring opportunity of the contest. Rachel Kennedy carried down the right side, cutting through the Panthers' defense, and fed Kimmy Ganong with a centering pass inside the circle. Ganong's sweep disappeared wide of the net
• Ganong had another opportunity, this time saved by Emily Miller, as Mettler Growney fed her classmate in the circle
• The Panthers took the lead with under ten minutes remaining in the first half off a successful one-on-one opportunity by Grace Jennings. Following a feed from the right side into Bowdoin's circle, Jennings collected the ball off a Bowdoin defender and turned on goaltender Clara Belitz uncontested. Belitz dropped to slide tackle the incoming offender, but Jennings avoided the goalie's pads and found the corner of the cage
• The second half opened with Middlebury pressure, including a promising scoring opportunity six minutes into play as Jennings carried down the left side. The first-year fed Annie Leondard who waited on pads, but the backhander went wide
• Leonard had another opportunity on the penalty corner one minute later, redirecting a shot from the right side, but Belitz made the kick save to deny.
• The Panthers continued to earn penalty corners and promising looks, but the Polar Bears defense continued to hold, benefiting from a clear by Emma Olney and blocker save by Belitz.
• Despite several corner opportunities for the Polar Bears, all Bowdoin's shots were blocked by the Middlebury defense.
• Bowdoin's best chance to tie came with nine minutes remaining as Liz Znamierowski watched her shot clink off the post before Lauren Berestecky cleared the ball over the sideline for Middlebury.
• Belitz ended the day with three saves, while the Polar Bears outshot Middlebury by a slight 17-14 margin. Miller made six stops and was aided by a defensive save from Jillian Green. Middlebury held a 9-5 edge in penalty corners over the Polar Bears.

All-Tournament Team

• Kennedy, Belitz and Kim Kahnweiler were recognized as selections to the NCAA All-Tournament team