MEDFORD, MA– The Bowdoin Polar Bears took down the Tufts Jumbos in the regular season finale by a score of 2-0 on Tuesday afternoon.
Bowdoin topped Tufts thanks to a brace from Samaya Bernardo, her ninth and tenth of the season.
The Jumbos came into the game needing a win in order to host a first round game at their turf in Bello Field. However, the Polar Bears, the six seed in the NESCAC coming into the game, were also playing in hopes of hosting, and they refused to back down.
The Polar Bears dominated ball control in the first half, as they allowed zero shots on goal and no corner kicks from the Jumbos offense. They got on the board in the 33rd minute, when Stephanie Christianson was able to set up Bernardo from the right side of the box. Bernardo took a touch and launched the shot into the upper right 90, past the reach of
Hayley Bernstein.
Before Tufts could respond, the half ended, and they trailed 1-0. At the beginning of the second half, Tufts came out firing. In the first two minutes, off the kickoff,
Maddie Pero was able to set up the leading Tufts scorer
Thalia Greenberg. Greenberg was able to get a rare Tufts shot off, but it was just wide to the right of the net.
Tufts kept up the pressure for the majority of the second half and maintained ball control throughout that majority. However, Bowdoin was able to get loose on a break, and Rylie McLaren was able to loft a beautiful ball from the right side of the box for Bernardo, who one-timed her second goal of the game past Bernstein and into the far side of the net.
Tufts' greatest scoring chance of the second half came off of a nicely placed
Madelyn Silveira ball through the middle, but no Jumbos were able to get a head on it, and it rolled out of bounds for a Bowdoin goal kick.
The game ended without any further Jumbo rally. Bowdoin outshot Tufts in the game 13-9, with Tufts only having one shot on goal as opposed to Bowdoin's four. Bowdoin also led in corner kicks (6-1) and saves (2-1). Tufts committed more fouls (10-6), and received the only yellow card of the game.
The loss places the Jumbos' final season record at 9-4-2 (4-4-2 NESCAC). Bowdoin ends the season with a record of 10-4-1 (5-4-1 NESCAC).
Both teams will play on Saturday in the NESCAC tournament first round. Stay tuned for upcoming tournament details.
Written by Lucas Wlodarczyk, athletic communications intern.
