HARTFORD, Conn. - Top seed Bowdoin College will host the semifinals and final of the NESCAC Women’s Soccer Championship this weekend November 8-9 at Pickard Field on their campus in Brunswick, Maine.

Semifinal action begins Saturday at 11:00 a.m. as Bowdoin (7-2 NESCAC, 12-2 overall) plays host to fourth seed Bates (5-2-2 NESCAC, 11-2-2). Last Saturday, the Polar Bears defeated rival Bates 1-0 in the last game of regular season conference play to earn the top seed and right to host the Championship.

In the second semifinal, second seed Amherst (5-2-2 NESCAC, 9-3-3 overall) will meet third seed Williams (6-3 NESCAC, 8-4-3 overall) at 1:30 p.m. Amherst, who has not allowed a goal in five games, defeated Williams 1-0 when the two teams met two weeks ago in Williamstown, Mass. These teams last met in the NESCAC tournament in the 2001 final, a 2-1 overtime victory by the Jeffs of Amherst.

Neither Amherst nor Williams scored in Saturday’s first round games, yet each advanced on penalty kicks following scoreless overtimes. Amherst and Tufts played 110 minutes without a goal before the Lord Jeffs converted four of five penalty kicks to advance. Middlebury held Williams scoreless through two overtimes as well, before losing to the Ephs in penalty kicks. Bates defeated Trinity 2-0 in other first round action.

Semifinal winners will advance to the championship on Sunday, November 9 at 12:00 p.m. at Bowdoin. The NESCAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.

2003 NESCAC WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, Nov. 2 at Higher Seeds
at No. 2 Amherst 0, No. 7 Tufts 0 - 2OT
Amherst advances on penalty kicks, 4-2
at No. 3 Williams 0, No. 6 Middlebury 0 - 2OT
Williams advances on penalty kicks, 3-1
at No. 4 Bates 2, No. 5 Trinity 0

Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 8 at Bowdoin
No. 4 Bates at No. 1 Bowdoin - 11:00 a.m.
No. 3 Williams vs. No. 2 Amherst - 1:30 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, Nov. 9 at Bowdoin
Semifinal winners - 12:00 p.m.