Box Score
|
| Emily Polinski matched her season high with six saves against Bowdoin. |
Parts of this recap courtesy of Bowdoin College
BRUNSWICK, Maine – Behind a second-half goal from freshman Marguerite Salamone the No. 3 Tufts field hockey team edged No. 4 Bowdoin, 1-0, in the NESCAC regular season finale, earning the top seed in the conference tournament and tournament hosting rights.
With the win the Jumbos finish the regular season with an 13-2 overall mark and an 8-2 record in NESCAC play. Bowdoin, the defending conference champions, finish the season with an 11-4 overall record and a 6-4 mark in conference play.
The Jumbos will now host eighth seeded Bates in a quarterfinal game at home on Ounjian Field on Saturday. Bowdoin is the fifth seed in the tournament and will travel to fourth seeded Middlebury for a quarterfinal match on Saturday. If the Jumbos win on Saturday, they will host the semifinals and finals the following weekend.
Bowdoin controlled the opening minutes of play, tallying pair of penalty corners and four shots before the Jumbos moved the ball to the far end for a bit of their own. Elizabeth Bennewitz lined up a hard drive from the top of the circle on a penalty corner and watched her shot deflect off the left post. The Polar Bears later peppered sophomore Emily Polinski with three quick shots that Polinski denied with a dive.
The Jumbos broke through 15 minutes into the second half. Salamone carried the ball to the endline and worked her way towards the left post. She found a gap as Clara Belitz dove to cut off the shot, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Bowdoin would extend the game, earning four consecutive penalty corners after time expired. The Polar Bears appeared to score on their fourth attempt as a blast from the top rattled into the cage, but the goal was called back and the Jumbos came away with the victory.
Bowdoin had a hefty advantage in shots, 20-5, and also in penalty corners, 20-3. Polinski stopped six for the Jumbos in goal while her Polar Bear counterpart, Belitz, tallied three saves for Bowdoin.
The NESCAC Tournament starts on Saturday as the Jumbos host Bates for a 1 pm start and Bowdoin will head to Middlebury for a 1 pm start as well.
