BRUNSWICK, Maine – Emma Stevens tallied a hat trick in the opening half to lead the Bowdoin field hockey team to a 6-2 NESCAC opening victory against Amherst on Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears improve to 2-0 (1-0 NESCAC) and avenge last year's season opening loss to the Mammoths. Amherst sits at 1-1 on the year (0-1 NESCAC).

Game Highlights

• Stevens scored consecutive goals within 22 seconds to give the Polar Bears a 2-0 lead in the tenth minute. Bowdoin got on the board as Abby Bashaw send a through pass from the top of the circle, with Stevens sweeping it in for the goal.
• The junior doubled the lead with another goal from the same spot, this time putting away a ball that pinged around through a pair of Amherst defenders.
• Elizabeth Growney intercepted a pass from 40-yards out and took the ball back on net for a hard shot four minutes later.
• Kara Finnerty set up Stevens' hat trick with a reverse sweep from the right side. Stevens deflected the ball just inside the far post to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
• Beth Williamson put Amherst on the board midway through the half, rifling off a drive from the top of the circle on a corner insert from Anna Agathis.
• Finnerty tallied a solo effort 2:51 into the second half as she tracked the ball down low left side of the circle, spun around, and pushed a shot inside the near post.
• Amherst cut into the host's lead as Emery Sorvino intercepted a pass deep in Bowdoin's defensive end. Sorvino quickly found Franny Daniels streaking into the circle, allowing Daniels to pull the keeper and put away the team's second.
• Bowdoin capped the game with a final goal in the 60th minute. Tala Glass pushed a pass wide of the right post for Bashaw to tip. Bashaw got a stick on the ball and deflected it back to herself off the post, cleaning up the rebound.

By the Numbers

• The Polar Bears held a slight 21-19 edge in shots, while the Mammoths doubled Bowdoin up on corners (8-4).
• Maddie Ferrucci earned the win with ten saves. Katie Savage suffered the loss with eight saves.
• Elizabeth Bennewitz recorded a defensive save for Bowdoin ten minutes into the second half.
• The Bowdoin field hockey program had never scored more than four goals against Amherst in a single game.  

Up Next

• Bowdoin hosts Bates at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening.
• Amherst is off until next Saturday with a matchup at Middlebury.