The Jumbos barely held off Middlebury, who totaled 69 points and had its top five finish in the top 22. The host Polar Bears claimed third (88), edging in-state rival Bates (89) by a single point. Williams (97) took fifth followed by Wesleyan (164), Amherst (196), Connecticut College (199), Colby (241), Hamilton (281) and Trinity (362).
The women’s 6K team event was a record-breaker as the top six runners all beat the previous course standard. Williams was able to defend its 2011 championship with a trio of runners in the top five, led by Kaleigh Kenny’s thirdplace showing in 21:37.80.
The Ephs posted 45 points to handily take first place over Middlebury (71), who had three finishers in the top 11. Amherst was third (107), followed by Bates and Tufts in a tie for fourth (138). Wesleyan (153), Bowdoin (161), Colby (186), Hamilton (215), Connecticut College (285) and Trinity (355) rounded out the team totals.
Women’s soccer
Jamie Hofstetter scored three goals to lead Bowdoin to its first NESCAC playoff win since 2007, 3-2 over Hamilton on Saturday at Pickard Field.
The teams combined for five goals in a furious second half, including three in a span of four minutes early in the second frame.
The Polar Bears (11-3-1) advance to the NESCAC semifinals for the first time since 2008. The Continentals ended their year with a mark of 9-5-1.
After a scoreless first half, Hofstetter got Bowdoin on the board less than four minutes into the second period. Molly Popolizio fed Hofstetter ahead on a breakway, which the first-year deposited into the net at 48:58.
She doubled Bowdoin’s lead 2:08 later, redirecting a strike from Kathleen Smith into the net for a 2-0 Polar Bear advantage at 51:06.
Hamilton answered 1:52 later as Victoria Freeman finished off a scramble in front with a tap-in at 52:58, trimming the Polar Bears advantage to a 2-1.
Hofstetter provided some much-needed insurance in the 66th minute, finishing off the hat trick with 24:38 remaining in regulation to give the hosts a 3-1 edge.
Bridget McCarthy made five saves in goal for Bowdoin, which held an 11-8 edge in shots.
Bowdoin will take on Amherst this upcoming Saturday at Williamstown, Mass.
Field hockey
Rachel Kennedy scored a pair of goals as the Polar Bears sprinted to an early lead and never looked back in a 3-0 win over Williams College in NESCAC quarterfinal action on Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field.
The third-seeded Polar Bears head into this upcoming weekend with a record of 13-2 and improved to 22-5 alltime in NESCAC Tournament play.
The sixth-seeded Ephs concluded their season at 6-9.
The Polar Bears look for a measure of revenge against Tufts in the NESCAC semifinals next weekend, hosted by Middlebury College. The Jumbos defeated the Polar Bears to clinch the second seed in both teams’ regular season finales on Oct. 24.
Kennedy wasted little time getting the Polar Bears on the board. She buried the first shot of the game on a pass from teammate Katie Riley to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at 33:22. Brooke Phinney increased the lead at 9:07 on a penalty corner shot with assists from Kassey Matoin and Katie Riley.
Spiliotes finished with nine saves for Williams. Kayla Lessard held the Ephs scoreless in the Bowdoin cage, making one save.
Football
Wesleyan scored 34 unanswered points to rally from an early deficit and take a 34-14 win over Bowdoin on Saturday afternoon at Andrus Field.
The Cardinals improved to 5-1 this fall, while the Polar Bears dropped to 1-5.
Bowdoin will host Bates in its home finale this upcoming Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Things started well for the Polar Bears as Bowdoin scored on its first two possessions. The Polar Bears marched 82 yards in 14 plays, cashing in on a 3-yard pass from Thomas Romero to Michael English for a 7-0 lead.
After forcing its secondstraight three-and-out, Bowdoin took over at its own 29, and on its second play from scrimmage Romero tossed a 62-yard strike to Matt Perlow, who rumbled to the W-6. Two plays later, Zach Donnarumma dove four yards to paydirt for a 14-0 advantage.
It was downhill from there as the Cardinals scored on four of its next five possessions. Kevin Hughes caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Jon Lis to trim the Bowdoin lead to 14-7, and Sebastian Aguirre nailed a 28-yard field goal early in the second quarter to make it 14-10.
LaDarius Drew went 21 yards for a rushing score shortly before halftime to make it 17-14 for the hosts at the half.
Bowdoin accumulated 354 yards of total offense, but committed six turnovers, including five interceptions.
Donnarumma finished with 91 yards on the ground and caught a pass for 59 yards. Defensively, Joey Cleary and Griffin Cardew had 10 tackles each. Cleary forced a fumble while Cardew had a sack and a fumble recovery.
Men’s soccer
Tufts advanced to the NESCAC semifinals for the first time since 2001 after eliminating Bowdoin 3-0 in the quarterfinals on Saturday at Kraft Field.
The Jumbos (9-3-3) will play host and No. 1 seed Williams in the semifinals this upcoming Saturday, while Bowdoin’s season ended at 8-5-2.
Bowdoin’s best chance came with 16 minutes left in the first half when defender Ben Brewster caused a crafty turnover at midfield and led a nice counter pass up to Zach Danssaert in the Tufts box. But, his shot missed the net.
Tufts took the lead 10 minutes later when Monil Patel sent a free kick to the head of junior Scott Blumenthal, who buried a shot into the far side of the cage to put the Jumbos up 1-0. The score stood until halftime.
Peter Lee Kramer put the Jumbos up 2-0 with 31:49 left in the second on another stellar header. Patel again sent the ball to the far post, and Kramer had a header attempt that bounced its way around Polar Bear keeper Will Wise and in for a 2-0 advantage. Blumenthal made it 3-0 by coming loose at the top of the box drilling the ball home at full speed.
Volleyball
The Polar Bears were eliminated from contention for hosting the NESCAC Championship after a 3-1 loss to Middlebury on Friday evening in Vermont.
The 22nd-ranked Polar Bears (24-3, 7-2) saw their 12- match winning streak come to an end.
The best Bowdoin can finish in league play is 8-2, which puts them in a two or three-way tie for first place in the conference. The Polar Bears lose all tiebreaker scenarios.
Melissa Haskell led the Bowdoin attack with 12 kills, with eight from Ellie Brennan and seven by Christy Jewitt. Brennan and Taylor Vail each had 14 digs in the match, with 13 from Sophia Cornew to go with her 39 assists.
Bowdoin rebounded to take a resounding 3-0 win at Williams on Saturday.
The Polar Bears finished their regular season with a record of 25-3 (8-2 NESCAC) and will be the third seed in this upcoming weekend’s NESCAC Tournament at Connecticut College. The Polar Bears will open play against sixth-seeded Tufts at 8 p.m. on Friday in the quarterfinals.
Bowdoin cruised to set wins of 25-13, 25-17, 25-22 against the Ephs. Jewett led all players with 10 kills and registered four blocks. Haskell had seven kills, 11 digs and four aces, while Hillary Cederna and Brennan also had seven kills apiece. Cornew dished out 26 assists.
The 22nd-ranked Polar Bears have already faced their NESCAC quarterfinal opponent Tufts twice this season. Bowdoin took the conference match in Brunswick on Oct. 6, 3-2, before scoring a 3-0 win at the Hall of Fame Tournament on Oct. 19.
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