The sixth-ranked Middlebury field hockey squad answered an equalizer from #9 Bowdoin with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter and led through to the final whistle in a 2-1 triumph over the Polar Bears on Saturday from Maine.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Middlebury found the scoreboard with 9:35 left in the first quarter. Claire McMichael collected the ball and hustled into the circle before firing a reverse sweep that snuck inside the left post.
- The Panthers nearly extended their lead at the 17:17 mark on a penalty corner. Addie Chandler flipped a quick pass to Megan Fuqua at the top of the circle. The senior eyed the right side of the cage, but Bowdoin goalie Eva Filipponi kicked aside the blast.
- The navy and white defense continued to clamp down and won the possession battle over the final 12:43 of the opening half.
- With 10:07 remaining in the second quarter, Emily Ferguson worked the ball to the left of the circle and ripped a shot that sailed over the crossbar.
- The hosts cashed in on a penalty corner about four minutes later. Ella Davies fired a cross-cage pass that glanced off Emily Ferguson's stick and snuck inside the right post.
- Middlebury regained the lead with 1:18 left in the third stanza. Emma McCann created a turnover deep in the Bowdoin end and fired the ball into a sea of players. Hadley Crowther tipped possession out to a darting Chandler, who found the right side of the cage.
- Bowdoin turned up the heat early in the fourth quarter, drawing back-to-back penalty corners before Hannah Balmelli pushed a shot wide over the opening 4:48 of action.
- The Polar Bears tested Panther goalie Madeline DiLemme off a penalty corner with 6:14 remaining. Clara Noyes collected possession and fired, but Redzic stood her ground and made the stop.Â
- Bowdoin continued to pressure the navy and white, earning the final chance of the contest with about five minutes left. Noyes tried to lift a shot into the cage that glanced off a Panther stick and out of harm's way.
- The visitors played keep-away for the final 5:13 of action to clinch the one-goal victory.
NOTES
- McMichael found the back of the cage for the first time this season, while Chandler tallied her fourth goal of the campaign.
- The Panther defense held the Polar Bears to a season-low two shots on goal.
- Middlebury and Bowdoin met for the 61st time. The win is the navy and white's 32nd in the series and 15th in the last 16 matchups.
The Panthers return to action Sunday for a neutral tilt against top-ranked Christopher Newport at 12:00 p.m. Harvard University is the host for the matchup.
