BRUNSWICK, Maine – Bowdoin scored with 12 seconds remaining to defeat the Connecticut College women's ice hockey team 3-2 on Friday night from Watson Arena.
The teams traded chances over the opening minutes as both Devon Galizio (Wayland, Mass.) and Sarah Peterson made two saves in the first 10 minutes. However, Conn opened the scoring at 15:34 as Olivia Montembeault (Glencoe, Ill.) found the back of the net off assists from Christine Oar (Scituate, Mass.) and Sofia Polizzi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to put the Camels in front 1-0 after one.
Conn had a chance to double their advantage, earning a power play six minutes into the middle frame, but the Camels were unable to convert. Bowdoin upped the pressure down the stretch looking to even the score, but Galizio held strong as Conn remained in front 1-0 heading to the third.
The Polar Bears finally broke through at 6:53 as Maddie Wojciak tied the game at one. Bowdoin then moved in front at 13:50 as Bella Mele made it 2-1. Conn had a late opportunity to tie the game, as the Camels earned a power play with just under three minutes remaining.
During the power play, Conn pulled Galizio for the extra attacker, as Casey Chesner (Great Falls, Va.) fired home off an assist from Lily Stern (Nove Zamky, Slovakia) to tie the game with 58 seconds remaining. However, with just 12 seconds left, Emma Merrill stunned Conn to give Bowdoin the 3-2 win.
Conn outshot Bowdoin 22-19, while Bowdoin held a 22-21 edge on face-off wins.
Galizio got the start in goal, finishing with 16 saves. Chesner and Montembeault both tallied a goal, while Oar, Polizzi, and Stern each added one assist. Ashley Engle (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Serena Seiple (Wilmette, Ill.) and Oar each won six face-offs as Conn finished 1-5 on the power play and did not take any penalties.
Peterson got the win in net stopping 20 shots. Merrill and Meghan Britt led the Polar Bears with two points each, as Bowdoin went 4-5 on the penalty kill and did not earn a power play.
Conn (7-12-2, 3-11-1 NESCAC) plays their final road game of the regular season tomorrow afternoon, as the Camels wrap up the weekend series with Bowdoin at 3:00 p.m.
