LEWISTON — Kiersten Turner performed all the scoring Bowdoin College needed in the fourth minute, but added a second score in the final minute, as the Polar Bears defeated the Bates women’s soccer team in a NESCAC game, 2-0 Wednesday afternoon.Bowdoin (3-0-1, 2-0-1 NESCAC) outshot Bates (2-3-0, 1-2-0) by only an 8-6 margin in the first half, but controlled the second half to the tune of a 17-1 shot differential.
With 42:40 remaining in the first half, Bowdoin’s Maya Norman gained control of the ball on the right wing near midfield, after a Bates back lost possession. Norman passed about 20 yards over to Turner, who was open in the right corner of Bates’ penalty area. Turner turned, dribbled twice to get free of a Bates back and shot the ball beyond the reach of Bates goalie Anabel Schmelz, inside the far (left) post for a quick 1-0 Bowdoin lead.
Bates and Bowdoin both put three additional shots on goal in the first half, with Schmelz and Bowdoin keeper Bridget McCarthy notching three saves apiece, even as Bowdoin attempted five corner kicks to Bates’ one.
Bowdoin kept the ball out of its third of the field for the vast majority of the second half, frustrating Bates’ efforts to tie the game back up. Bowdoin kept Bates’ defense on its heels for much of the period, gaining four more corner kicks and putting five more shots on goal for Schmelz to turn away before Turner’s insurance goal, while also misfiring on a handful of scoring opportunities.
With 50 seconds left in the game, Bates missed a chance to clear the ball out of the box, and the Polar Bears were able to take advantage. Jamie Hofstetter one-timed the loose ball to Turner in the left corner of the box. Turner pulled off nearly an inverse image of her first goal, lofting the ball inside the far right post and into the right-side netting for the 2-0 winning margin.
Schmelz finished the game with eight saves, and McCarthy stood at three.
Bowdoin hosts Middlebury Saturday at noon.
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