Williams Wins Second-Straight Field Hockey Championship

Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

BRUNSWICK, Maine — Tori Scott scored twice and Williams held off a late Bowdoin rally to take their second straight NESCAC Championship on Sunday in Brunswick. The Ephs (14-3), who avenged their 2000 Championship Game loss to Bowdoin (12-4) and a penalty-stroke defeat earlier this year to the Polar Bears, earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament that comes with being the NESCAC Champion. Bowdoin will hold out hope for an at-large berth when the field is announced late Sunday night.

Bowdoin had the best early chance to score as the Polar Bears kept early pressure on Williams keeper Wendy Stone. About 12 minutes into the contest, Bowdoin's Colleen McDonald fired a shot that went just inches wide of the cage, keeping the game scoreless. The Ephs scored the games' first goal at 9:28 of the first when Scott took a backhand pass from Kate Leonard and fired a rifle-shot past Bowdoin's Gillian McDonald to give Williams a 1-0 edge. Less than five minutes later, Williams doubled their lead as Scott scored again on a blast from just inside the circle to give the Ephs a 2-0 lead at the break.

The Polar Bears rallied in the second half, but could not beat Stone who was impressive all day stopping 11 shots. Bowdoin finally broke through with 16 seconds remaining in the game when Marissa O'Neil notched a goal to cut the final to 2-1. McDonald made six saves for Bowdoin in the losing effort.

2002 NESCAC FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, Nov. 3 at Higher Seeds
at No. 2 Williams 3, No. 7 Amherst 0
at No. 3 Middlebury 3, No. 6 Bates 2 - OT
at No. 4 Wesleyan 2, No. 5 Colby 1 - OT

Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 9 at Bowdoin
at No. 1 Bowdoin 4, No. 4 Wesleyan 0
No. 2 Williams 2, vs. No. 3 Middlebury 1 - OT

Championship - Sunday, Nov. 10 at Bowdoin
No. 2 Williams 2, No. 1 Bowdoin 1