Sunday, November 3, 2003

TRINITY WOMEN'S SOCCER SEASON ENDS
WITH SPIRITED EFFORT AT BOWDOIN

Brunswick, Maine- Sophomore forward Rachael Gordon (Wayland, Mass.) scored the game's only goal with just 5:11 remaining in the contest to give the Bowdoin College Polar Bears a 1-0 win over the visiting Trinity College Bantams in the first round of the New England Small College Athletic COnference (NESCAC) Women's Soccer Championship Tournament this afternoon. 

Trinity, seeded No. 7 in the tourney, finishes the season with a 7-6-2 record, while the Polar Bears improve to 12-2-1.  Bowdoin, seeded No. 2 in the championship field, advances to the semi-finals next weekend at Tufst against No.-3 seeded Williams. 

An evenly-matched first half saw both teams have great early chances to score. Bowdoin garnered the first scoring opportunity of the contest when junior midfielder Jill Falwell (Arlington, Mass.) broke into the box all alone just minutes into the game. Falwell ripped a shot that was tipped high by Trinity sophomore netminder Brenna Shields (Cutchogue, N.Y.) for the save. Later in the half, a header by junior midfielder Hillary Smith (Denver, Colo.) off a pass from junior midfielder Julie Barnes (Wayne, Pa.) just missed at the 24-minute mark, keeping the contest scoreless.

Trinity sophomore forward Nicole Mauger (East Bridgewater, Mass.) had two good chances in the first frame for the Bantams, but could not convert as one point-blank shot was stopped by Bowdoin sophomore goalie Anna Shapell (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and another sailed just wide of the post.

After a scoreless first half, Bowdoin looked to convert early in the second frame as a give-and-go by sophomore midfielder Cedar Goldman (Milton, Mass.) and senior forward Shelly Chessie (Fredericton, New Brunswick) set up Goldman with a look from 15 yards out. Goldman's shot soared just inches over the crossbar as the game remained knotted. The Bantams answered just minutes later on a long ball played to a streaking Mauger who booted the ball from about 18 yards out. A leaping Shapell just got a piece of the ball, punching it high to keep the game tied.

The game-winning goal was set up after a scramble at the top of the box. Gordon collected the loose ball at the corner of the box, settled the ball with one touch to draw Shields out of position and toed it into the
open net at 84:49. The Polar Bears held off a late Bantam flurry to seal the victory. Shields made seven saves in the contest, while Shapell stopped six saves in the shutout.

SCORING
B- Rachael Gordon (Cedar Goldman) 84:49.

GOALKEEPER SAVES
TRIN - Brenna Shields 7
BOW - Anna Shapell 6

SHOTS:
TC- 12, B- 12.