MEDFORD - Senior co-captain Ingrid Oelschlager (Roanoke, VA) scored twice and junior Elizabeth Clegg (Hudson, OH) set up two goals as the Bowdoin College field hockey team won its sixth NESCAC championship on Sunday with a 3-0 victory at Tufts.
Bowdoin is back on top in NESCAC after Tufts had stopped the Polar Bears' four-year run (2005-08) of conference titles last fall. Improving to 16-1 overall, Bowdoin earns the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Tufts (15-2), playing in its third straight NESCAC final, will earn an NCAA at-large berth.
The first good scoring opportunity of the day came off the stick of Bowdoin junior Katie Herter (Topsfield, MA). At the other end of the field, a rocket off the stick of Tufts defender Taylor Dyer (Windham, NH) from outside the circle was deflected and Polar Bear goalie Emily Neilson (Chatham, PA) saved it with her blocker.
Bowdoin scored the all-important first goal when Clegg crossed the ball and first year Olivia King (Georgetown, MA) slapped it into the right corner of the cage with 15:29 on the clock. Less than 10 minutes later Clegg would assist on a similar goal. Her cross to Oelschlager went in at 6:40 to help Bowdoin take a 2-0 advantage into halftime. The visitors were also up 9-2 in shots and 4-1 in corners for the first 35 minutes.
After an early save by Neilson on a Tufts shot by senior Melissa Burke (Walpole, MA) in the second half, Bowdoin extended its lead to 3-0 at the 28-minute mark. Senior Michaela Calnan's (Melrose, MA) pass was slammed home by Oelschlager for her second of the game.
The Jumbos responded with good offensive pressure, earning three consecutive corners. However, they could not get a solid scoring opportunity out of any of them. With a three-goal lead, the Polar Bears concentrated on defense and eventually earned their 11th shutout of the year. It was the first time the Jumbos have been shut out this season.
The three goals by Bowdoin were the most against Tufts since the Polar Bears won the 2008 NCAA Championship Game played between the two teams 3-2 in overtime. Bowdoin finished with a 16-8 advantage in shots today, and 7-6 in corners. Both Neilson and Tufts junior goalie Marianna Zak (Concord, MA) made five saves.
Game Statistics
#
