Middlebury came up on the short end of a 1-0 NESCAC home contest against Bowdoin on Saturday afternoon. The Polar Bears (5-1, 3-1) scored just 33 seconds before halftime and made it stand for the final 45 minutes on Dragone Field. Middlebury (4-2, 1-2) continues NESCAC play Sunday when it travels to Hamilton for an 11:00 a.m. kickoff, while Bowdoin hosts the University of New England on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

The hosts had a pair of good scoring chances in the opening half. A shot by Adrianna Gildner in the third minute on a bicycle kick looped over the net and out of harm's way. In the 32nd minute, a free kick from 22 yards away by Gildner in the 32nd minute was caught by Bowdoin goalkeeper Rachel Stout, keeping the match scoreless.

Bowdoin tallied the lone goal of the contest at the 44:27 mark. Anna Mellman took a shot from the left side a little more than 35 yards away that looped to the far post just over the outstretched hand of Middlebury goalkeeper Ursula Alwang.

Out of the halftime break, Middlebury looked to knot the score when Amanda Hotvedt hit a shot in the 48th minute from nearly the same spot as Mellman's goal, but Polar Bear keeper Rachel Stout leapt up and prevented the tying goal when she caught the attempt with her fingertips.

Much of the ensuing 35 minutes were played in the midfield with neither team producing any scoring chances. The final chance to tie the match for the Panthers happened in the 83rd minute. After a scramble inside the Bowdoin penalty area, a low, hard shot from Alex Barber was denied on a nice diving stop by Stout. The Polar Bears were able to milk the clock, hanging on for the 1-0 victory.

Middlebury held the advantage in shots (14-8), including a 10-3 edge in the opening half, while Bowdoin earned four corner kicks to the Panthers' three. Stout recorded five saves for the Polar Bears for her third shutout of the season, while Alwang registered four stops for the hosts.