MEDFORD, Mass. — The Bowdoin College women’s volleyball team rallied from an 11-6 deficit in the fifth set to stun Tufts, 15-13, and seal a key 3-2 NESCAC win over the Jumbos on Friday evening.

Tufts won a tight first set as Christina Nwankpa had a kill and Brigid Bell served an ace.

Bowdoin rebounded in the second set, rallying from an early 7-4 deficit to roll off an 8-0 run, sparked by back-to-back kills from Caroline Flaharty to take a lead the Polar Bears never relinquish in a 25-20 win to even the match.

Tufts jumped to an 11-5 lead in the third set and closed out Bowdoin with a 6-1 run to take a 25-14 win and gain a 2-1 overall lead.

Bowdoin replied again, pulling away late in the fourth set after being tied at 15. Tufts closed to within 23-21, but a block by Kate Kiser and Sydney Salle, followed by a fortuitous ace by Lisa Sheldon that clipped the net, gave Bowdoin a 25-21 win and forced a deciding fifth set.

The Polar Bears again had their backs to the wall in the fifth, trailing 11-6 in the race to 15. But a kill by Flaharty and block by Cori Gray sparked a 6-1 run that tied the score at 12 apiece. After Tufts took a brief 13-12 edge, a Jumbos service error evened the score and consecutive kills from first-year Allyson Hawkins put the match away for Bowdoin.

Ashley Williams was outstanding, posting a career-high 23 kills, while Flaharty had 16 kills and 14 digs in the winning effort. Kiser dished out 46 assists while Sheldon had 26 digs. Emily King pitched in 19 digs and three service aces for the Polar Bears, who also got six blocks from Gray.

Bowdoin split a twin-bill on Saturday, defeating Scranton in three sets, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20, before falling to fourth-ranked Johnson & Wales in four, 25-12, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21.

The Polar Bears stand at 10-1 and host Williams this upcoming Friday at 7 p.m.

Women’s rugby

BRUNSWICK — Bowdoin cruised to a 51-5 win over Colby in its home opener on Saturday at Pickard Field.

The Polar Bears improved to 2-0 and have outscored their opponents 117-12 over the first two matches.

Bowdoin’s team and individual defense pressured Colby into numerous mistakes, including less than two minutes into the game when the Polar Bears’ back line forced a turnover which resulted in wing Taylor Yoder scoring the first try the game.

Bowdoin’s continued pressure and solid tackling created opportunities for the Polar Bears. Long breakaway tries were scored by first year fullback Sophia Karris, Amber Ramos and Jackie Jaques.

Center Allegra Bersani and flyhalf Liz D’Angelo added tries of their own in the first half while D’Angelo also made two conversion kicks as Bowdoin carried a 34-5 lead into halftime.

Mackenzie Philbrick highlighted both halves with strong carries, timely passing and highlight-reel tackles.

In the second half, Amber Ramos scored her second try while first-year Molly Petronzio played scrum half and scored a try under the posts, converted by D’Angelo.

Philbrick had another break away run and scored final trial of the game.

Satya Kent led the day with 15 tackles, with D’Angelo having 10 and Alice Hawkins, Hannah Zuklie totaling nine apiece.

Bowdoin’s B-side earned a 49-10 win. Scoring for the B-side were sophomore Renita Shivnauth and all first-year players — Jenna Clukey, Ashlynn Autrey, Brooke Berry, Molly Petronzio, Catherine Patti and Sage Kashner.

Bowdoin will be at home this upcoming Saturday when it faces West Chester at 11 a.m. at Pickard Field.

Women’s soccer

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Middlebury jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first half to pin a 3-1 setback on Bowdoin Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears sit at 2-3-1 (1-3 NESCAC), while the Panthers are a perfect 6-0 (3-0 NESCAC).

Middlebury scored just 3:36 into the game. Eliza Van Voorhis crossed the ball from the left for Alex Barber. Barber settled the ball and put a hard shot in net.

Minutes later, Sabrina Glaser launched a ball from 20-yards out for a 2-0 lead, and with 4.4 seconds remaining in the half, Simone Ameer hooked a shot from the left side inside the far post.

Penny Rocchio made a diving save in the 65th minute to deny another Middlebury attempt.

Ali Dougal spoiled the clean slate by tabbing a Bowdoin goal in the final seconds of regulation. Dougal’s shot bounced off a Panther defender and rolled into the net.

Ursula Alwang made four saves for the Panthers. Sabrina Albanese had four stops for the Polar Bears. Rocchio made a pair of saves in the second half.

Bowdoin returns to Pickard Field for a game on Wednesday against the University of New England at 4 p.m.

Men’s soccer

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Drake Byrd scored the game-winning goal just under 11 minutes into the game to lift Bowdoin to a 1-0 win over host Middlebury on Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears picked up their first conference win (1-2) and stand at 3-3 overall. The Panthers are 2-2-1 (1-2 NESCAC).

Bowdoin tallied the only goal at 10:57. Following a Middlebury foul, Byrd rifled a right-footed shot from 22-yards out. The ball tucked in under the upper-left corner.

Middlebury’s best chance came with just over a minute remaining in the first half. Daniel O’Grady found space behind the defense on a cross, but his volley was saved by Owen Wolfson.

The Panthers continued to pressure in the second half, but the Polar Bears kept the hosts off the board.

Matthew Hyer finished with three stops for the Panthers. Wolfson made five stops for Bowdoin after relieving Chris Kingston midway through the first.

Bowdoin plays at the University of Southern Maine on Wednesday evening.

Field hockey

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Top-ranked Middlebury handed Bowdoin its first loss of the season in a 4-2 setback on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers broke through 7:50 into the game on a corner. Kelly Coyle sent a pass to Danielle Brown who went five-hole on Bowdoin’s Maddie Ferrucci.

Middlebury added another goal just three minutes later as Erin Nicholas beat three Bowdoin defenders before finding the net.

Elle Brine made a key defensive save midway through the frame to keep Bowdoin within striking distance.

Bowdoin came out firing in the second half and scored 4:05 into the frame. Abby Bashaw knocked home a goal from the right side.

Grace Jennings scored a pair of quick goals to push Middlebury’s lead to 4-1.

Elizabeth Growney netted another goal for Bowdoin off a corner with nine minutes to play, finishing off the insert from Brine.

Megan Collins made one save for Middlebury. Maddie Ferrucci made four stops for Bowdoin in 56 minutes of action. Eva Verzani played the final 14 minutes in net.

Middlebury held a 14-9 edge in shots and slight 4-3 corner advantage.

Bowdoin bounced back on Sunday with a 6-0 victory over the University of Southern Maine.

The Polar Bears are 6-1 and host Wellesley on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Emma Stevens scored three goals in the win.

Football

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Tailback Nate Richam broke Bowdoin’s 42-year old single-game rushing record with 288 yards on the ground, but it wasn’t enough as the Polar Bears surrendered a fourth quarter lead to Middlebury and fell 37-24 on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers improved to 1-1, while the Polar Bears fell to 0-2.

The teams combined for 1,035 yards of total offense on a day that also saw the squads combine for 95 yards worth of penalties and eight turnovers.

Bowdoin jumped on the board first, covering 69 yards in five plays to take the lead on a 37-yard Michael Chen field goal six minutes into the game.

Middlebury scored the next 16 points, first on a 4-yard touchdown run by Peter Scibilia and then an 18-yard pass from Jack Meservy to Conrado Banky. The Panthers blocked a Bowdoin punt, but the Polar Bears were able to recover in the end zone, limiting the damage to a safety that gave Middlebury a 16-3 lead.

Richam, who rushed for 227 yards in the first half alone, scored on a 5-yard run with 1:37 left before halftime, but Middlebury answered quickly with a seven-play, 72-yard scoring drive in just 56 seconds to take a 23-11 edge.

With the Panthers seemingly ready to take that lead into the break, Richam broke off a 75-yard scamper on the first play of the ensuing drive, cutting the lead to 23-18 at halftime.

The teams traded possessions to start the third quarter before a Franny Rose interception deep in Middlebury territory set up the Bowdoin offense. Three plays later, Austin McCrum found Gregory Olson for a 20-yard touchdown pass, giving the Polar Bears a 24-23 lead after a missed 2-point conversion.

The Panthers regained the lead two plays into the fourth quarter, as a Scibilia 48-yard run led to a 16-yard TD run by Will Jernigan with 14:38 to go.

The Polar Bears had two possessions to answer, but failed to regain the lead. Middlebury put the game out of reach with a nine-play, 48-yard drive, ending in a short TD run by Banky with 7:21 to go, making it 37-24.

Richam carried the ball 30 times, smashing the former record of 270, set by Jim Soule in 1976 against Bates. McCrum completed 20-of-39 passes for 206 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions.

Joe Gowetski earned a dozen tackles, while Nicholas Leahy finished with 10 stops and Rose had a pair of interceptions.

Scibilia rushed for a career high 184 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown for Middlebury. The Panthers gained 344 yards overall on the ground.

Bowdoin returns to Whittier Field this upcoming Saturday where the Polar Bears host Amherst at 1 p.m.

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