BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Bowdoin field hockey team opened the 2019 season with a 4-0 shutout victory at University of New England on Wednesday evening.

The Polar Bears (1-0) topped the Nor'Easters (1-1) despite a 10-8 penalty corner advantage for UNE. The hosts had seven penalty corners in the first quarter of play.

Game Highlights

• UNE controlled the first quarter, but Bowdoin struck on its only corner of the frame. Manveer Sandhu fired a shot from the top of the circle that found the cage at 7:44.
• The Nor'Easters looked for an equalizer in the second, but Maddie Ferrucci made a diving deflection to cut the ball off as it crossed to the far left post. It was the last major offensive push by UNE.
• Emma Stevens rattled off a pair of third quarter goals to extend Bowdoin's lead to 3-0. First, Abby Bashaw carried the ball to the right post and crossed a pass to Stevens. Stevens took a shot and collected her own rebound to put back in a diving goal. Five minutes later Stevens finished off another cross from Bashaw to the left post.
• Bowdoin's final goal came in the fourth quarter, again on a corner. Elle Brine ripped a shot from the top of the circle and Peyton Jackson deflected the ball from the stroke line up and over the defense.

By the Numbers

• Bowdoin held an 18-9 shot advantage after allowing six UNE shots in the first 15 minutes.
• The Polar Bears cleaned up defensive play in the circle and allowed only three UNE corners in the final three quarters.
• Ferrucci made six saves in the game.
• Liz Sargent matched Ferricci with six stops for UNE.

Up Next
• The Polar Bears open NESCAC play on Saturday at Amherst with an 11:00 AM start.