Bowdoin returns to the Division III “Final Four” after a one-year absence and will be making its seventh trip to the NCAA Semifinals in the last nine years. The Polar Bears claimed the Division III title in 2007, ’08 and ’10.
The Polar Bears (16-3) will battle Christopher Newport in the national semifinals on Friday. Game times, ticket information and live coverage will be announced today.
Bowdoin pressured Montclair’s defense early with a near miss in the opening four minutes. Katie Riley carried the ball down the right side and sent a crossing pass towards Emily Simonton in front of the net.
Montclair’s Rebecca Brattole made a diving attempt on the pass, allowing Simonton time and space to launch an aerial over the prone goalie.
Unfortunately, the shot cleared the crossbar, leaving the game scoreless. With 27 minutes showing on the clock, Kennedy entered into a one-on-one with Brattole, who met Kennedy at the top of the circle with a slide tackle to deny any real shot opportunity.
The Polar Bears continued to pressure the Red Hawks’ defense in the second half.
The Polar Bears finally solved the Montclair (21-2) defense 51 minutes into the game off a penalty corner. Riley inserted to the top for a hard shot from Olivia King. Kennedy caught the ball with a reverse stick tip to change the direction, slipping it between the goalies legs for the 1-0 lead.
The Red Hawks forced Bowdoin’hs Hannah Gartner to make two pivotal saves in the last two minutes.
Montclair earned its final corner of the game with 30 seconds showing, rifling off a shot on net, which Gartner made a play on. Kim Kahnweiler cleared the rebound out of the circle as the horn blew.
Bowdoin held a decisive 12-7 edge in shots, resulting in six saves from Brattole and four from Gartner. The Polar Bears held an 8-5 advantage in corners.
Riley leads the way
On Saturday, Katie Riley recorded a hat trick to lead Bowdoin to a 5-2 win over New Paltz State in the second round at Montclair State.
With less than five minutes off the clock, Bowdoin netted its first goal of the game to take the lead. Kennedy fed a long pass from outside the circle to Emily Simonton.
The New Paltz offense hit its stride 10 minutes in with three consecutive corners.
Riley added an unassisted shot, doubling Bowdoin’s lead, with less than eight minutes to go in the half.
Leading 3-1, the Polar Bears tacked on their fourth of the game just three minutes later as Riley collected a cleared ball outside the circle and carried down the right side towards the end line.
A quick pass back across the circle connected with Kennedy, who found the left corner of the Hawks’ cage.
The teams traded goals down the stretch with Riley scoring unassisted.
The Polar Bears outshot the Hawks 19-9.
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