MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The top-ranked Middlebury College women's lacrosse team closed the game on a 4-1 run to defeat 13th-ranked Bowdoin on Saturday, 16-12, in the season opener for both squads.
The Polar Bears stand at 0-1 (0-1 NESCAC) while the Panthers move to 1-0 (1-0 NESCAC).
Game Highlights
- Trailing 1-0, Middlebury rattled off the next five goals to lead 5-1 at the 17:56 mark. Jane Early scored twice, while Erin Nicholas cut through traffic to score a goal with a player advantage to close the surge.
- Bowdoin answered the run with four-straight tallies of its own, including two from Katie Miller, tying the game at 5-5 with 3:09 left in the first half. The teams exchanged the next two goals, leaving the game knotted at 6-6 at the intermission.
- The Panthers started the second half by scoring five of the first six goals, moving ahead 11-7 when Earley scored through traffic with 20:28 on the clock. Emily Barnard tallied three of the five goals during the spurt, including twice on free position shots.
- The Polar Bears would not go away, as Fiona Bundy sandwiched a pair of goals around a tally from Kate McAloon, as Bowdoin made it a one-goal game (11-10) once again with 17:43 left to play.
- Leading 12-11 with 10:38 remaining, Sarah Weppler put her team on top 13-11, before Nicholas scored on a bounce shot to make it a three-goal game (14-11) at the 6:51 mark.
- Grace Getman gave the Panthers some more breathing room with 4:55 on the clock, while Weppler converted a pass from behind the goal by Barnard to put the game out of reach (16-11) with 1:49 remaining. Bundy scored the game's final goal as the Panthers emerged with the 16-12 victory.
By The Numbers
- Bundy led all scorers with six goals, while Miller added two scores and two assists for Bowdoin.
- Morgan Pinado registered a team high four ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Kara Finnerty won six draws.
- Aaliyah Biondo made nine saves in goal for the visitors.
- Barnard and Earley led the hosts with five goals apiece, Weppler and Nicholas each scored twice, while Barnard added two assists.
- Earley won five draw controls, while Barnard picked up three ground balls. Julia Keith made seven saves in goal to earn the win.
- Bowdoin's 12 goals were the most scored by a team against Middlebury in 18 games, dating back to the team's 21-18 shootout win last season in Brunswick.
Up Next
- Bowdoin will play Plymouth State in its home opener on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
