First year Carson Dennis (Julia Monaco)
First year Carson Dennis (Julia Monaco)

Blue Field Hockey Falls Just Short Against No. 12 Bowdoin

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College field hockey scored a goal in each half but fell just short of knocking off No. 12 Bowdoin College, dropping a 3-2 final in non-conference action Wednesday at the Wellesley Fields Complex. 

Bowdoin improves to 4-2 with the victory, while the Blue slide to 4-4 overall.

The Polar Bears opened the scoring at 17:37 of the first, as sophomore Tala Glass (Glencoe, Ill.) carried the ball into the circle, turned and snuck a low shot past Wellesley goalkeeper Janelle Sullivan (Philadelphia, Pa.) to make the score 1-0.

Wellesley managed just one shot in the first half, but made it count thanks to a fantastic individual effort from first year Carson Dennis (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) 2:29 before the half. Dennis forced a turnover deep in Bowdoin's end, before knocking the ball past goalkeeper Maddie Ferrucci (Essex, Conn.) for her second of the year. 

Bowdoin broke the 1-1 halftime tie at 41:44 of the second, scoring on a penalty stroke from senior Juliana Fiore (Westwood, Mass.) just after a close range attempt from Abby Bashaw (West Newbury, Mass.) went wide of the post. The Polar Bears doubled their advantage at 48:15 when sophomore Emma Stevens (Darien, Conn.) snuck the ball past Sullivan following a low cross from classmate Kara Finnerty (Hopkinton, Mass.). 

The Blue got one back on a penalty corner in the 56th minute. Junior Hannah Maisano (Gambrills, Md.) redirected a drive from senior Emmy Hamilton (New York, N.Y.) following the entry from Dennis. Unfortunately for the Blue, Maisano's marker would be the final of the contest as the Polar Bears held on in the final minutes to take the 3-2 win.

Bowdoin ended the afternoon with a 14-4 edge in shots, totaling nine shots on goal. Wellesley responded with three shots on goal, while the Polar Bears had a 4-2 advantage in penalty corners. Ferrucci (4-2) totaled two saves to pick-up the win for Bowdoin. Sullivan (1-3) turned back six shots for the Blue. 

Wellesley returns to New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play this Saturday, September 30, with an 11:00 AM game at Clark. Bowdoin continues the season on Monday, October 2, with a 3:30 PM contest at Southern Maine.