Bowdoin College’s Stephanie Ludy '13 recorded a pair of goals and the nationally ranked No. 8 Polar Bears defeated Hamilton College 3-1 in a NESCAC game at Bowdoin’s Watson Arena on Feb. 9.
The Polar Bears (16-4-2 overall, 10-3-1 NESCAC) reached 16 victories in a season for the first time since 2006-07. Bowdoin has won four of the last five meetings with Hamilton, including a 6-1 victory on Friday night at Bowdoin.
Ariana Bourque '16 scored the other goal for the Polar Bears. Kenzie Novak '13 tallied two assists, and Kayte Holtz '13 and Rachel Kennedy '16 added one apiece. Kayla Lessard '13 made 20 stops and picked up her 10th win in goal. Lessard is tied for fourth in Division III with a .947 save percentage and leads the NESCAC with a 1.26 goals against average.
Katie Zimmerman '13 scored an unassisted goal for Hamilton (11-10-1, 5-8-1). Zimmerman has notched a point in four straight games with two goals and four assists during that stretch. She leads the NESCAC with 18 goals and 26 points. Becca Hazlett '13 turned away 23 shots in 58 minutes, 56 seconds.
Ludy found the back of the net twice in the first period. On the first goal, Novak stole the puck in Bowdoin’s offensive zone, and sent a pass to Ludy in front for a wrist shot that went top shelf at 6:10. Ludy’s second goal came with 9:37 left in the first while the Polar Bears enjoyed a two-skater advantage. Ludy finished off another feed in front from Novak for her 12th goal this season.
Hamilton cut its deficit in half with 8:01 remaining in the second period. Shortly after the Continentals killed a cross-checking penalty, they won a neutral zone faceoff and Zimmerman beat the defense. Her backhander snuck under the crossbar for her 54th career goal.
The Continentals nearly tied the score with less than five minutes left in the second, but a shot by Nikki Haskins '14 rang off the post. Moments later, the Polar Bears increased their lead to 3-1 on Bourque's goal. Kennedy sent the puck into traffic near the top of the crease, it eventually found Bourque on the back post and she scored her seventh goal with 2:51 to go.
With 1:04 left in the third period, the Continentals pulled Hazlett for the extra skater, but could not catch the hosts. Bowdoin held a 26-21 edge in shots. The Polar Bears were 1-for-5 on the power play and killed all three of its penalties.
The Continentals wrap up the regular season with a pair of NESCAC home games against Colby College on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16 and 17.
