FIELD HOCKEY FALLS IN NESCAC SEMI'S - HEADED TO NCAA REGIONAL

November 10, 2008

The Middlebury College field hockey team will makes its sixth consecutive and ninth overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament in a regional at Bowdoin this weekend. The Panthers will take on the winner of the N.E.C/Lebanon Valley (Weds.) game on Saturday, November 15th at 2:00.

Lindsay McNamara scored two goals and Julia King added a goal and an assist, as the #4 ranked Bowdoin field hockey team rolled to a 4-0 win against #6 Middlebury on Saturday afternoon in the NESCAC Tournament semifinals at Tufts University's Bello Field.

King was the catalyst when the Polar Bears gained a 2-0 lead in the first half. She assisted on the first Polar Bear goal by McNamara with 10:58 on the clock. King then deflected a free hit by Shannon Malloy into the cage with 4:55 to go until halftime.

Middlebury did not have a shot on goal in the first half as Bowdoin took the two-goal advantage into the break. Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Pentifallo (River Edge, N.J.) made five saves in the first 35 minutes, as shots were 10-4 in favor of Bowdoin overall for the period.

About four minutes into the second half, Bowdoin scored a disputed goal by McNamara for a 3-0 advantage. It was originally waved off due to a dangerous pass into McNamara, but then granted following a discussion between the referees. Ten minutes later, confusion around the Middlebury cage left the ball out in the open for Bowdoin's Madeleine McQueeney to swat in for a 4-0 margin.

The Panthers came to life later in the second half, earning a 10-5 margin in shots for the period. Bowdoin goalkeeper Emily Neilson, who entered at halftime, made four saves to preserve the shutout with starter Emileigh Mercer. Due to the late Middlebury surge, shots were close with Bowdoin totaling a 15-14 advantage for the game. The Polar Bears also had a slim 7-6 tally in penalty corners. Pentifallo stopped seven shots total in the Panther goal.
. Field hockey record: 13-3
. Up next: 11/15 vs. N.E.C./Lebanon Valley - 2:00 (@ Bowdoin), 11/16 - Reg. Final - 1:00