HARTFORD, Conn. – Carolyn Gorajek and Katy Dissinger each scored three goals as the Bowdoin College women’s lacrosse team upset previously unbeaten Trinity 9-6 in an NCAA Division III regional final Sunday to advance to the Final Four in Garden City, N.Y.

It will be the first national semifinal for the 11th-ranked Polar Bears (17-3), who will face top-ranked College of New Jersey (20-0) at 5 p.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to the championship game at 3 p.m. Sunday. SUNY Cortland and Gettysburg will play in the other semifinal.

“It’s a huge first for us,” said Bowdoin Coach Liz Grote. “I thought today’s game showed how truly great a team we are.”

Trinity’s Megan Leonhard started the scoring just over five minutes in, but Bowdoin responded with four straight goals, including two by Liz Clegg, in the next six minutes.

Leonhard finished with five goals, three times pulling the Bantams (18-1) within a goal.

She cut the Polar Bears’ lead to 7-6 with 23:13 remaining, but Gorajek answered 2:19 later. Dissinger added an insurance goal with 6:43 to play.

“Whenever they scored, we responded back really quickly. I just thought that showed some really great team strength,” said Grote.

The Polar Bears were able to shut down NESCAC Player of the Year Rachel Romanowsky, who had 31 goals and 42 assists in 18 games. Bowdoin held her without a point and to just four shots.

“We didn’t want her to pass inside,” Grote said, “and she wasn’t really able to do that.

Katie Herter also had a goal for Bowdoin and Tara Connolly made 10 saves.

This will be the third Final Four appearance of the school year for Bowdoin’s athletic teams.

The field hockey team won its third NCAA championship in four years last fall, and the men’s soccer team reached the national semifinals.

Eight members of the women’s lacrosse team, including Clegg and Herter, were also on the field hockey team.

SUNY CORTLAND 15, COLBY 4: Eighth-ranked Colby lost in the regional finals for the second straight year, falling to fourth-ranked SUNY Cortland at Cortland, N.Y.

Lindsay Abbott had four goals and five assists, and Maria Di Fato also scored four goals for the Red Dragons (21-1).

Caitlin Briody scored twice for the Mules (15-5).

 

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