MIDDLEBURY, Vt.  — The Bowdoin College women’s lacrosse team saw its season come to an end in an 18-9 loss to Middlebury in the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship Saturday afternoon.

The 14th-ranked Polar Bears closed a fantastic season with a record of 10-8. 

The third-ranked Panthers (19-1) extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 19 games.

The Polar Bears opened the scoring 23 seconds into the contest as Fiona Bundy tallied on a high shot from the left side.

Middlebury responded with a four-goal run, starting with a score on a quick stick from Jane Earley off a nice feed from Emily Barnard. Earley and Barnard added the next two goals, before Lily Riseberg tallied on a feed from Erica Barr off a free-position attempt with 15:37 on the clock.

Bowdoin’s Katie Miller and Kate Kelly sandwiched goals around one by Middlebury’s Erin Nicholas to make it a 5-3 contest. 

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Emma White gave the hosts a boost with an end-to-end rush in transition for her first goal of the season.

After a marker by Elizabeth Growney for the Polar Bears, the hosts finished the opening frame with scores from Barnard and MG Gateley for an 8-4 lead at the break.

Bowdoin closed the gap to 8-5 just under two minutes into the second stanza when Bundy slid a shot inside the left post.

The Panthers responded a pair of goals before Growney’s second goal of the game cut the Middlebury lead to four goals, 10-6, with 21:53 remaining. 

Emma McDonagh scored a pair of goals, sparking a decisive 7-1 run for Middlebury that pushed the lead to 17-7 with under 10 minutes to go.

Early had four goals for Middlebury, while Grace Getman added three goals and an assist. Bowdoin was led by three goals from Bundy and two goals apiece from Growney and Kelly.

Kate McAloon paced Bowdoin with four draw controls, while Kara Finnerty, Natalie Rudin and Paige Brown had two caused turnovers apiece.

Julia Keith made six saves for Middlebury, while Erin Morrissey (two saves) and Aaliyah Biondo (seven saves) split time in goal for the Polar Bears.

Bowdoin was doomed by 22 turnovers. Middlebury owned a 35-23 edge in shots and had a slight advantage (15-14) in draw controls.

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