2/13/05 - Bowdoin put themselves in a great position to host the upcoming NESCAC Tournament, as they defeated Middlebury, 5-2. With wins over Wesleyan and Trinity next weekend, the Polar Bears would clinch the top spot and host the semifinals and finals on March 5th and 6th in Dayton Arena. A loss in either of those games, and Middlebury would be the host site.

Bowdoin opened the scoring at 8:20 as Kat Popoff's shot from the right face-off circle was partially saved by Kate Kogut before trickling over the line. Popoff had a great chance to make it a 2-0 game at 14:30 but her snap shot from the left wing hit the top left corner of the pipe. Bowdoin did take a 2-0 advantage at 16:52 as Kelsey Wilcox scored from just inside the blue line on the left wing.

Middlebury cut the lead in half 8:00 into the second period when Alison Graddock snapped a shot inside the far post from the right side. The Panthers had a great chance to tie the game with a five-on-three for 1:47 at the 11:44 mark, but Cat MacEachern made three big saves to preserve the one-goal lead. Middlebury out shot Bowdoin 17-5 in the second period, and were 1/5 on the power play.

Bowdoin took a 3-1 lead just 23 seconds into the third period as Kristen Cameron skated across the zone and scored from the high slot. The Polar Bears took a commanding 4-1 lead at 6:18 as Meghan Tanguay deflected in a centering pass from Marissa O'Neil. Middlebury cut the lead to 4-2 at 10:08 with a power play goal, as Graddock scored on the rebound after a save by MacEachern on Emily Quizon. Middlebury pulled Kogut with 3:37 and then went on a power play with just 2:12 left in the game. Meghan Gillis sealed the game for Bowdoin as she intercepted a pass and scored an empty-netted shorthanded goal from the blue line at 18:18.

Kogut ended the game with 13 saves for Middlebury, while MacEachern made 31 stops.

Date: February 13, 2005 - 3:00 p.m

Venue: Kenyon Arena - Site: Middlebury, Vt.

TEAM  1  2  3  OT  F

Bowdoin (17-3-1)  2  0  3  -  5

Middlebury (19-2-1)  0  1  1  -  2

SCORING

B-1st (8:20) - Kat Popoff

B-1st (16:52) - Kelsey Wilcox (Nicki Young, Meghan Tanguay)

M-2nd (8:00) - PP: Alison Graddock (Abby Kurtz-Phelan)

B-3rd (:23) - Kristen Cameron (Katie Coyne, Caroline Currie)

B-3rd (6:18) - Meghan Tanguay (Marissa O'Neil, Currie)

M-3rd (10:08) - PP: Graddock (Emily Quizon, Kurtz-Phelan)

B-3rd (18:18) - EN/SH: Meghan Gillis

GOALTENDING (saves)

Kate Kogut-M (58:05 min., 13 saves, 4 GA)

Cat MacEachern-B (60 min., 31 saves, 2 GA)