Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The No.15 Bowdoin College Polar Bears received a pair of second-half goals from Emily Ferguson to secure a 2-0 decision versus the University of New England in field hockey action under the lights at Blue Bolt Field on Monday (Sep. 7).

Ranked in the preseason National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Top 25 Poll, the Polar Bears registered sizable margins in total shots (36-2), shots on goal (21-1), and penalty corners (14-1) during the match.

However, UNE first-year goalie Riley Curtin and the Nor'easter defense held firm, for the most part, under near-constant pressure. Curtin wound up with 19 saves -- the most by a keeper with the program in more than 15 years (tied for sixth in history).

"Riley was amazing in the cage tonight, and definitely kept us in the game," said UNE head coach Danielle Collins. "We played well as a team, overall, and only two goals allowed to an experienced, nationally-ranked team like Bowdoin is a pretty good reflection of that."

The hosts kept the Polar Bears off of the board in the initial 30 minutes, with Curtin supplying 10 stops. Midway through the 1st period, Curtin's opposite for Bowdoin, Eva Filipponi, needed a quick right-toe save to maintain the scoreless game. Aside from a 2nd-quarter penalty corner blast that skimmed just wide, the visitors had the field tilted in the other direction.

Bowdoin's first chance out of 14 in the 3rd frame (plus 7 corners) broke the seal in the 33rd minute, as Ferguson finished inside the right post off a transition pass from Katie Athanasoulas. Clara Noyes hit the post twice in the stanza, but the Nor'easters otherwise withstood the attack.

The Polar Bears added an insurance tally in the 46th minute, when Ferguson collected a feed from Allie Straub -- after a multiple-rebound sequence -- and found space in the left side.

UNE is slated to begin its Conference of New England (CNE) slate on Saturday at Roger Williams University. The teams last met in the league semifinals a year ago.