Bowdoin Advances with 2-1 Win Over Williams in Field Hockey Championship
Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information
BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College field hockey team advanced to its third consecutive NESCAC final with a 2-1 victory over Williams in the semifinals of the 2007 NESCAC Field Hockey Championship on Saturday. The Polar Bears (15-0) will look to earn an unprecedented third-straight championship against Middlebury College at noon on Sunday.
Although Bowdoin controlled the pace of play, the hosts could not get on the scoreboard in the opening stanza despite an 11-2 advantage in shots.
The Polar Bears' best chance came with under two minutes remaining in the period, as a pass from Lindsay McNamara found Ingrid Oelschlager alone in front. But Ephs goaltender Bethany Baker made a pad save to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.
The Polar Bears continued to pressure Williams early in the second half and found the back of the cage just three minutes into the period.
Oelschalger controlled the ball in transition and found McNamara on the wing, who slapped it inside the right post to give Bowdoin the advantage at 37:53. The Polar Bears doubled their lead later in the half, as they got a goal from an unlikely source. Kate Gormley played a crossing ball to senior tri-captain Meaghan Maguire on the doorstep, who banged it home at 58:44 to make it 2-0. The marker was the first of the year for Maguire, a three-year starter, and the midfielder's first tally since her sophomore season.
Williams was able to get a goal back with under a minute to play, as Arianna Kourides finished off a scrum in front of the goal with a shot that popped over the shoulder of Bowdoin netminder Emileigh Mercer. The tally marked just the second goal allowed by the Polar Bears all season.
Mercer did not make a save in the victory, as Bowdoin outshot Williams 23-3 and held a 16-2 advantage in penalty corners. Baker did her best between the pipes for the Ephs, stopping nine shots.
