BRUNSWICK

Emma Stevens tallied a hat trick in the opening half to lead the Bowdoin College field hockey team to a 6-2 NESCAC opening victory against Amherst on Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears improved to 2-0 (1-0 NESCAC) and avenged last year’s seasonopening loss to the Mammoths. Amherst is 1-1 (0-1 NESCAC).

Stevens scored consecutive goals within 22 seconds to give the Polar Bears a 2-0 lead in the 10th minute. Abby Bashaw sent a through pass from the top of the circle, with Stevens sweeping it in for the goal. The junior doubled the lead with another goal from the same spot, this time putting away a ball that pinged around through a pair of Amherst defenders.

Elizabeth Growney intercepted a pass from 40-yards out and took the ball back on net for a hard shot four minutes later.

Kara Finnerty set up Stevens’ hat trick with a reverse sweep from the right side. Stevens deflected the ball just inside the far post to take a commanding 4-0 lead.

Finnerty tallied a solo effort 2:51 into the second half as she tracked the ball down low left side of the circle, spun around, and pushed a shot inside the near post.

Amherst cut into the hosts lead as Emery Sorvino intercepted a pass deep in Bowdoin’s defensive end. Sorvino quickly found Franny Daniels streaking into the circle, allowing Daniels to pull the keeper and put away the team’s second.

Bowdoin capped the game with a final goal in the 60th minute. Tala Glass pushed a pass wide of the right post for Bashaw to tip.

Bowdoin hosts Bates at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

Women’s volleyball

BOSTON — Bowdoin concluded a perfect weekend at the New England Invitational with two more wins on Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears (5-0) swept Maine-Presque Isle, 3-0, before defeating UMass-Boston, 3-1, to complete a 4-0 showing at the Invitational.

Against Presque Isle, Bowdoin earned its fourth consecutive 3-0 win to open the campaign with the 25-9, 25-12, 25-14 win. Gabby Koenig led the Polar Bear attack with a dozen kills while also pitching in eight digs. Emily King had a team-best 16 digs, while Lexie Freund recorded 33 assists for Bowdoin.

The Polar Bears finished with 16 service aces in the match.

Versus UMass-Boston, Bowdoin lost its first set of the season, but earned a hard-fought 25-16, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20 victory over the Beacons to remain undefeated. First-year Sophia Pahl was outstanding, collecting 20 kills with 12 digs. Caroline Flaharty added 12 kills and 14 digs, while Kate Kiser dished out 43 assists. Lisa Sheldon had 30 digs in the win.

On Friday, Bowdoin topped Gordon, 25-19, 25-12, 25-23, and defeated Brandeis, 25-19, 25-21, 25-11.

The Polar Bears will face Maine Maritime in their home opener on Wednesday at 7 p.m. inside Morrell Gymnasium

Men’s soccer

BRUNSWICK — Amherst rode a first-half goal and held off Bowdoin, 1-0, in a NESCAC match played Saturday at Pickard Field.

The Mammoths moved to 2- 0 with the victory.

After the teams traded early chances, it was Amherst that struck. Awarded a free kick at the top of the Bowdoin box, Dane Lind played the ball to the right for Luke Nguyen, who blasted a high shot into the goal at 30:29.

Bowdoin answered with several good chances but failed to find the equalizer before the half. The Polar Bears controlled the pace of play in the second half.

Bowdoin appeared to tie the game midway through the second period, but had a goal waved off on a whistle in the box.

Amherst finished with a 10-6 advantage in shots for the contest and the Mammoths were called for 17 fouls compared to 14 for Bowdoin. Polar Bear netminder Chris Kingston finished with five saves, while Michael Stone made one save for Amherst.

On Sunday, the Polar Bears (1-2) dropped a second 1-0 decision, this one to Saint Joseph’s College.

Brett Mattos scored the lone goal for the Monks off a Cody Elliott assist in the 65th minute.

Bowdoin hosts Husson on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Women’s soccer

BRUNSWICK — Amherst used an early penalty kick conversion to hand Bowdoin a 1-0 setback on Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears dropped to 0-1-1 (0-1 NESCAC), while the Mammoths picked up their second victory to improve to 2-0-0 (1-0-0 NESCAC).

Amherst earned a penalty kick 12:17 into the game and Alexa Juarez lined up to take the shot. Juarez buried the ball in the top left corner, sneaking the shot beyond the outstretched hands of the goalie.

Just a minute later, Rubii Tamen threatened with a dangerous possession in the center of the box. Tamen turned to rip a shot on net, but Sabrina Albanese turned away the bid to keep Bowdoin within one.

Bowdoin hosts Bates at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Women’s golf

BRUNSWICK — Bowdoin cruised to a season-opening first-place finish in its debut on Saturday at the Bowdoin Invitational, played at Brunswick Golf Club.

Paced by a phenomenal round from Caroline Farber, the Polar Bears took first place with a team total of 363 to defeat Husson (387), Bates (401) and Trinity (430).

Farber recorded four birdies in her round, including three straight to open the back nine to finish the round at 1-under par 73 and take medalist honors by five strokes over Sarah Vimini of Trinity.

Bowdoin also had Emme McCabe (87) take third and Haley Baldwin (93) finish sixth.

The Polar Bears earned a second straight first-place finish on Sunday, capturing the Bobcat Invitational at Fox Ridge Golf Course in Auburn.

Bowdoin carded a team score of 362 to defeat Husson (388), Bates (408) and Trinity (424).

Farber earned medalist honors with a 76, the only player to break 80.

The Polar Bears return to the course on Saturday when they compete at the Maine State Tournament at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

Men’s golf

BRUNSWICK — Saint Anselm edged Providence by three strokes to take the title at the 2018 Bowdoin Invitational on Sunday at Brunswick Golf Club.

The Hawks finished with a two-day total of 603, followed by Providence (606) and Endicott (610) and Nichols (610), which tied for third. The host Polar Bears recorded a score of 629 to take eighth

Tristan Dundas of the University of Southern Maine earned medalist honors, finishing with a two-day total of 144 to end at even par for the weekend, winning by five strokes.

Tom Dunleavy was the top Bowdoin finisher, scoring 153 (9-over) to end in a tie for 14th overall.