LEXINGTON, Virginia — Grace Jennings’ goal with just 10 minutes remaining in the first half lifted the Middlebury College Panthers by the Bowdoin College Polar Bears 1-0 in the NCAA Division III national championship field hockey game Sunday on the campus of Washington & Lee University.
Following a feed from the right side into Bowdoin’s circle, Jennings collected the ball off a Bowdoin defender and turned on goaltender Clara Belitz uncontested. Belitz dropped to slide tackle the incoming offender, but Jennings avoided the goalie’s pads and found the corner of the cage.
Bowdoin had two promising scoring opportunities by Kimmy Ganong in the first half but her first shot was wide of the net and the second was stopped by Emily Miller.
Despite several corner opportunities for the Polar Bears in the second half, all of their shots were blocked by the Middlebury defense.
Bowdoin’s best chance to tie came with nine minutes remaining as Liz Znamierowski watched her shot clink off the post before Lauren Berestecky cleared the ball over the sideline for Middlebury.
Belitz ended the day with three saves, while the Polar Bears outshot Middlebury by a slight 17-14 margin. Miller made six stops and was aided by a defensive save from Jillian Green. Middlebury held a 9-5 edge in penalty corners.
Bowdoin of Brunswick had beaten Middlebury (Vermont) twice before the NCAA playoffs, with the second win coming in the NESCAC final.
It was the first time Bowdoin was shut out this season and it ended with a 21-1 record. The Panthers earned their first NCAA title since 1998 and finished at 20-2.
Bowdoin advanced to the final after posting a 4-2 victory over Ursinus in a semifinal Saturday.
Rachel Kennedy scored two goals and assisted on another for the Polar Bears.
Kelsey Mullaney provided a goal and an assist for Bowdoin, Nicole Barbieri netted one goal and Emily McColgan added an assist. Belitz made seven saves.
Ann Kopera and Amber Steigerwalt tallied a goal each for Ursinus (19-4). Danielle DeSpirito made six saves.