Box Score Recap courtesy of Bowdoin College
BRUNSWICK, ME - The second-seeded Bowdoin women's soccer team advanced to the NESCAC semifinals following a 3-0 shutout over Tufts on Saturday afternoon.
The Polar Bears (11-4-1) concluded their regular season schedule with a tight 3-2 win at Tufts on Tuesday afternoon. Bowdoin hosted the Jumbos (6-8-2) in the first round of NESCAC playoff action for the third straight year.
Bowdoin got on the board early with a goal from Maggie Godley in the seventh minute. Jamie Hofsteter set up Godley as she sent a short ball over the top of a pair of defenders on a one-hop. Godley received the ball behind Tufts' back line and carried left, sliding a shot short side with a left-footed bid.
The Jumbos outshot Bowdoin in the first half by an 8-6 margin, but both goalies made three saves in the first 45 minutes.
Hofstetter and Jill Rathke scored goals two minutes apart late in the second half to extend Bowdoin's lead to 3-0. The Polar Bears doubled their lead as Eliza Nitzan picked off a free kick by the Jumbos in their own defensive end. Nitzan connected with a through ball to Hofstetter at the top of the box, who had a clear look at Tufts keeper Emily Bowers for a shot to the right corner.
Rathke scored minutes later as she tracked a ball off the hands of a diving Bowers and put back the rebound to extend Bowdoin's lead to 3-0. Hofstetter fed Nitzan whose previous shot on goal set up the rebound opportunity for Rathke.
Tufts looked to spoil Bowdoin's shutout in the final four minutes with a flurry of shots on Rachel Stout who came in late in the game for Bowdoin. Nicole Campellone and Allie Weiller fired off back-to-back shots that required one save from Stout before another shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
Bowdoin ended the day with a slight 14-12 edge in shots. Bowers concluded the season with a seven-save performance in net for the Jumbos. Bridget McCarthy and Stout each made three saves for the Polar Bears.
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