Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College field hockey team advanced to the third-round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, defeating The College of New Jersey 2-0. The Polar Bears, ranked fourth in the nation, improve to 17-0 with their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. The sixth-ranked Lions end their year with a mark of 15-5.

Bowdoin, the only unbeaten team in Division III, advances to take on Springfield in Sunday's Regional Final. The Pride defeated Middlebury in penalty strokes 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. The winner advances to the NCAA Championship weekend on November 18-19 at Washington & Lee University in Virginia.

The Polar Bears wasted little time getting on the board against one of the perennial NCAA Tournament powers. Less than seven minutes into the contest, a cross by Christi Gannon got behind Lion goaltender Kristina Beyel and was put home by Lindsay McNamara, giving Bowdoin a one-goal lead. The Polar Bears had a flurry of penalty-corner chances later in the frame, but could not convert as they maintained their one-goal edge heading into intermission.

The College of New Jersey answered with a strong rush in the second period, and mid-way through the frame had three consecutive penalty-corner opportunities. The Bowdoin defense clamped down, and did not allow a score and the Polar Bears sealed the victory on a tally with less than eight minutes left. A shot from McNamara at the top of the circle rebounded off Beyel to the stick of Burgess LePage, who buried a shot into the back of the goal for a 2-0 lead.

Bowdoin's Kate Leonard benefited from strong play by the Polar Bear defense, having to make just two saves in the shutout. Beyel made six saves in defeat. The win is the first in four NCAA Tournament appearances for the Polar Bears, who also reached the tourney in 1997, 1999 and 2000. The College of New Jersey, winners of 10 National Championship in field hockey, drop to 63-16 all-time in NCAA play.