Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College field hockey team defeated Stevens Institute of Technology, 3-0, in an NCAA Tournament Second-Round game on Saturday. The Polar Bears (16-2) will face the winner of Lebanon Valley and Middlebury in the Regional Final on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Ducks end the best season in program history with a record of 19-4.

The defending national champions controlled the pace of play throughout, out-shooting the visitors 20-2. But Bowdoin struggled to find the back of the net thanks to some stellar defensive plays by Stevens.

The Polar Bears had an early bid to grab the lead just moments into the contest, but a shot on the doorstep by Shavonne Lord was swept aside by defender Erin Broderick to keep the game scoreless. Later in the period, Julia King ripped a shot off the post following a corner opportunity and goaltender Stephanie Smith made five saves in the opening stanza.

But it was the Ducks' only defensive misplay of the half that led to the only goal of the period as Bowdoin's Madeleine McQueeney took control of a turnover 30 yards out and beat her defender to left side of the goal. McQueeney centered to Ingrid Oelschlager, who slipped the ball inside the right post to give the Polar Bears the lead 14:48 into the contest.

Bowdoin carried their one-goal edge into the second period and doubled their lead when Lindsay McNamara redirected a shot by Julia King in front of the cage to make it 2-0 with 16:52 to play. Stevens had their best opportunity to score just moments later off a penalty corner. Kara Borzillo had two attempts in close, the second of which was swept off the goal line by defender Kara Kelley, to maintain Bowdoin's two goal advantage.

The Polar Bears upped their lead with less than 10 minutes to go.  Following a Stevens turnover, McQueeney found Katie Herter with a centering pass that the first-year buried to make it 3-0 with 9:12 to play.

Stephanie Smith made several strong saves to keep the game close, stopping 11 shots overall for the Ducks, who set a school record wins and captured their first NCAA Tournament bid this season. Bowdoin split time between Emileigh Mercer (no saves) and Emily Neilson (one save).