BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin women's hockey team suffered a 3-1 setback to Middlebury in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday afternoon.
The second-ranked Panthers (19-2-3 (14-1-1 NESCAC) locked up the top seed for the NESCAC tournament. The Polar Bears (8-13-3, 4-11-1 NESCAC) are the seven seed for the post-season.
Game Highlights
- Bowdoin broke through Middlebury's stingy defense while on the power play at 4:23 in the first. Kathryn Kester slid a pass to Nell Fusco at the left point for a hard shot. Julia Surgenor tipped the puck in front of the crease to deflect Fusco's shot up and over Anne Goldstein.
- The Panthers responded a minute later with a power play goal of their own. Claudia Vira fired a shot from the right point and Mollie Dalbey tipped the puck to Madie Leidt in front of the net. Leidt unleashed a quick wrister to best Dani Marquez.
- Middlebury took its first lead at 10:54 off an Ellie Barney deflection. Eva Hendrikson banked a pass of the boards in front of Middlebury's bench up to Ashley McDonald. On the right point, McDonald connected with the blade of Barney' stick coming down the slot towards net. The puck deflected five-hole for the 2-1 lead.
- Jenna Letterie took a low angle shot on the left side that was turned away by Marquez, but Katie Hargrave tracked down the rebound. Hargrave put the puck top shelf to go ahead 3-1 with 4:48 remaining in the first.
- The Polar Bears survived 16 shots and three penalty kills in the second period without allowing Middlebury to extend its lead.
- With under a minute remaining, Kester broke up a two-on-one empty net breakaway bid by the Panthers.
By the Numbers
- Marquez stop 42 stops for the Polar Bears.
- Goldstein made 12 saves for Middlebury.
- Bowdoin went 1-for-2 on the power play.
- Middlebury was 1-for-4 on the power play.
- The Panthers had not allowed a power play goal in NESCAC play yet this season.
Up Next
- The Polar Bears will play at Colby on Saturday in the NESCAC Quarterfinals.
