Box Score SOMERVILLE -- Sarah Grubman scored a goal in each half, but that was not enough as Bowdoin held on to beat Tufts in the final game of the regular season on Tuesday afternoon at Kraft Field.
Tufts finished as the #7 seed in the NESCAC and will face Bowdoin again in the conference championship quarterfinals on Saturday. The Polar Bears are the #2 seed and will host the quarterfinal game. The starting time has not yet been announced.
Bowdoin controlled the beginning of the match, taking two quick shots on goal that resulted in saves by Tufts' keeper Emily Bowers. Minutes later, Bowdoin's Jamie Hofstetter found Maggie Godley at the top of the eighteen, and Godley hammered it home, just past the oustretched arms of Bowers. The Jumbos responded quickly with back-to-back shots from Allie Weiller and Mariah Harvey-Brown, and an Emma Ranalli corner was almost the equalizer, as a Nicole Campellone header floated over the crossbar.
A Bowdoin foul in the 30th minute resulted in a free kick for the Jumbos, just outside the eighteen. Polar Bear goalie Bridget McCarthy punched Ranalli's attempt off the crossbar, but Grubman was there to clean it up and even the score. Tufts stymied the Bowdoin attack, including four corners, until less than ten seconds remained in the half. With eight seconds to go, Godley was open again at the top of the eighteen, and Claire Dardinski assisted her for the second Polar Bear goal.
The Jumbos came out strong in the second, beginning with an Alex Scheman bid, but McCarthy was there to make the save. Soon after, a long shot from Chandler Quintin landed just wide of the post. Despite Tufts' defense thwarting multiple Polar Bear runs throughout the half, Hofstetter scored the game-winner in the 54th minute as Lauren McLaughlin redirected a corner kick to her in the six, and Hofstetter lofted it into the net.
Tufts battled back, and had multiple opportunities to score in the waning minutes, including two near breakaways from Weiller and Jess Capone. In the 88th minute Grubman rebounded a Brooke Fortin shot at the top of the eighteen and scored to put the Jumbos within one, but Tufts could not tie the game before the final horn.
Bowdoin outshot the Jumbos 30-17. Bowers ended the game with 12 saves for Tufts, and McCarthy 6 for the Polar Bears.
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