The field hockey team enters this weekend’s NESCAC semi-final match on a tear. They have won nine of eleven games dating back to late September. This past Sunday they defeated Tufts for the second time in four days in their quarter-final game to avenge a season ending loss to the Jumbos last fall. Like men’s soccer, they are now poised to take on a familiar opponent that sits atop the NESCAC standings in Bowdoin
The Cards have met Bowdoin six times since 2000, compiling a record of 2-4. Their latest meeting came just last weekend when Bowdoin came through with a 7-1 victory. In an impressive fashion, the Cards made the long trip home from Brunswick, ME and defeated Tufts the following day to earn a trip back to Maine and another shot at the Polar Bears.
Bowdoin enters the contest as hosts of this year’s NESCAC tournament. They are the only NCAA Division III Field Hockey team with an undefeated record and are ranked fourth in the most recent STX/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll. The Polar Bears also dominate the tops of the NESCAC statistics pages, leading the conference in goals scored per game (3.93), goals against average (0.55) and shutouts (6). Offensively they are led by Lindsay McNamara ’09, whose fourteen goals are the most ever by a frosh at Bowdoin. In the back, goalkeeper Kate Leonard ’07 leads the league in fewest goals against with 0.61.
The fourth seeded Cardinals are up against an impressive opponent, but are in the midst of a fine season of their own. Having already improved on last year’s NESCAC tournament performance, the Cards will look to take down the Polar Bears just as they did in last year’s regular season finale. Forward Molly Adams ’07 scored both Cardinal goals in that game and she has continued to lead the Cards’ offense this year with ten goals and six assists for twenty-six points. This output makes Adams the fourth leading point getter in the NESCAC this year. Cortney Tetrault ’07 has dished out an impressive eight assists this year, placing her tied for second in the conference in that category. In total, ten different players have contributed to the scoring effort for the Cards this season.
Cards’ goalie Caitlin Kelly ’07 has made 105 saves thus far this season, which is more than any of the other goalies remaining in the tournament. Kelly is also tied for second in the NESCAC with three shutouts and has played more minutes than any other goalie in the conference.
Caitlin Thompson ’06, Kaylea Moore ’06, Alex Pfeiffer ’06, and Alex Lowery ’06 have combined with Kelly to create a formidable defense for the Cards. This defensive unit has given up only 1.73 goals per game, good enough for fifth in the NESCAC. The combination of a powerful attack and stingy defense has earned the Cards a +0.45 scoring margin, again placing them towards the top of the NESCAC rankings. The Cards will need a great performance on both ends of the field to come out on top Saturday.
The game starts at 11:00 a.m. on Bowdoin’s Ryan Field.
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