Bowdoin Wins 2004 Women's Ice Hockey Championship

Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

Box Score

BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College Women’s Ice Hockey Team defeated the Middlebury College Panthers 4-1 to take the NESCAC title on Sunday. With her second straight hat-trick, Meghan Gillis broke the record for goals in the NESCAC Tournament with six. This is Bowdoin’s second NESCAC title in the last three years and gives the Polar Bears an automatic spot to the NCAA Tournament, while Middlebury’s future in the tournament rests on an at-large bid when pairings are announced on Sunday evening.

The game began with both teams struggling offensively. The Polar Bears pulled ahead with just over a minute left in the first period. NESCAC Rookie of the Year Meghan Gillis skated through a two defenders and slid it through the legs of Panther goalie Kati Madouros for a 1-0 Polar Bear lead.

In the second period, Kate Leonard extended Bowdoin’s lead to two. On a powerplay, Jayme Woogerd slid the puck to Leonard in front of the net. The one-timer was successful as Madouros let the puck through her pads for the second time of the afternoon. Britney Carr had a chance to put Bowdoin up by three just before the end of the second. She took the pass from Marissa O’Neil in transition, but Madouros stopped both her shot and her rebound.

Middlebury brought the game within one on an early powerplay in the third period. Jean Butler ripped a slapshot and Liz Yale-Loehr redirected the puck in the air. It rolled down the back of Natalie Morgan and into the goal, ending her three-game shutout streak. However, Bowdoin answered just over a minute later as Gillis went top shelf on Madouros in an unassisted effort that put Bowdoin up 3-1. Gillis broke the record for goals in the NESCAC Tournament ten minutes later when she completed her second hat trick of the weekend. She took a pass from Leonard and put it over the glove of Madouros.

Morgan saved 17 of 18 Middlebury’s shots on goal. Bowdoin, with the help of Morgan, set the record for Fewest Goals Allowed in the NESCAC Tournament. Madouros saved 28 of Bowdoin’s 32 shots.

2004 NESCAC WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Saturday, Feb. 28 at higher seeds
at No. 2 Middlebury 6, No. 7 Connecticut College 0
at No. 3 Williams 8, No. 6 Wesleyan 0
at No. 4 Hamilton 6, No. 5 Amherst 1

Semifinals - Saturday, March 6 at Bowdoin
at No. 1 Bowdoin 6, No. 4 Hamilton 0
No. 2 Middlebury 5, vs. No. 3 Williams 1

Championship - Sunday, March 7 at Bowdoin
at No. 1 Bowdoin 4, No. 2 Middlebury 1