Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

BRUNSWICK, Maine - Bowdoin earned its third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Field Hockey Semifinals with a 5-0 victory over Rowan University in a Regional Final played at Howard Ryan Field on Sunday.

The Polar Bears (18-0) are the lone remaining unbeaten in Division III Field Hockey. They will play Lebanon Valley in a National Semifinal on Friday at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. Rowan finishes their season with a record of 15-5.

In what was possibly their most complete game of the season, the Polar Bears - led by a career-high four goals from junior Lindsay McNamara - blew the doors off of the Profs, dominating from the get-go. McNamara, who entered the game tied for the Bowdoin single-season goal record (19), put the Polar Bears on the scoreboard just 2:17 into Sunday's game. McNamara collected a loose ball in front and tucked a shot inside the left post to give the hosts an early lead.

Rowan made a bid to tie the game moments later, earning a penalty corner less than three minutes later. Kimberly Brozosky was able to get off a quick shot, but Bowdoin netminder Emileigh Mercer made a timely save to maintain the one-goal edge. That would be the Profs' lone shot of the period, as Bowdoin controlled the pace of play throughout the remainder of the half, out-shooting the visitors 9-1 and holding a 4-1 edge in corners.

Just before intermission, Bowdoin got a key contribution, as Kate Gormley took a crossing feed from McNamara and slapped home her second goal of the season to give the Polar Bears a two-goal advantage at the break.

Bowdoin continued the offensive pressure early in the second stanza, scoring three times in a 14-minute span, courtesy of the NESCAC Player of the Year McNamara. A redirection off a Julia King missile at 43:51 improved to Bowdoin lead to three goals before McNamara tipped home an Ingrid Oelschlager shot at 49:42 to round out the hat trick. McNamara iced the game at 57:51, burying a penalty stroke to the upper-left corner to make it a five-goal game.

Mercer finished with two saves in her eighth solo shutout of the season and the team's 15th in 18 games. Amanda Cucinotti finished with four saves for the Profs. Bowdoin ended with a 15-4 edge in shots, while also holding a 9-3 advantage in penalty corners.

The Semifinal appearance will be the third consecutive and third overall for the Polar Bears, who have yet to win an NCAA title in any sport.

Bowdoin dropped to Messiah in the National Semifinals in each of the past two years. The Polar Bears, who have never played Lebanon Valley, will learn the game time and ticket information on Monday. The other semifinal game will feature Salisbury and Middlebury.