Field hockey falls, but makes playoffs

LEWISTON, Maine --- The Colby College field hockey team lost a tough 3-2 overtime game to Bates College on Friday, but the Mules are still headed to the New England Small College Athletic Conference playoffs.

Rachel Greenwood's breakaway goal in the sixth minute of the first overtime gave Bates College the come-from-behind victory.

Colby (5-9, 2-7 NESCAC), Bates (6-8, 2-7 NESCAC), and Connecticut College (2-7 NESCAC) all finished with identical conference records. Bates beat both teams to earn the seventh seed in the playoffs and Colby lost to the Bobcats and beat Connecticut College to earn the eighth spot. The Mules will play at top-seeded Tufts University on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a league quarterfinal game.

Colby's Meryl Poulin put the Mules ahead in the first half. The first of Poulin’s two goals came in the sixth minute of the game when she shot past Bates goalie Katie McEnroe on a loose ball opportunity. Bates senior Abby Childs evened the game at 1-1, however, deflecting in a shot by Samantha Rothkopf on a penalty corner play. Poulin's second goal came in the game's 28th minute, knocking in a rebounded McEnroe save off a shot by Heather Quadir on a penalty corner play.

Bates evened the game again after 26 scoreless minutes of play when Sema Kazarian converted an assist by Morgan Maciewicz.

Liz Fontaine made eight saves for Colby, while McEnroe made 13 saves for Bates.

Bates 3, Colby 2, OT
 Colby College.......  2  0  0 -  2
 Bates College.......  1  1  1 -  3
  SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.   5:02 COL Meryl Poulin (7) (unassisted)
  2.  22:28 BAT Abby Childs (3) (Samantha Rothkopf)
  3.  28:36 COL Meryl Poulin (8) (Heather Quadir)
  4.  59:31 BAT Sema Kazarian (8) (Morgan Maciewicz)
  5.  75:40 BAT Rachel Greenwood (7) (unassisted)
 Shots: Colby College 34, Bates College 18.   Saves: Colby College 8 (Liz Fontaine 8), Bates College 13 (Katie  McEnroe 13).

2008 NESCAC FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunday, November 2 at Higher Seeds

Quarterfinal Games
No. 8 Colby at No. 1 Tufts – 1:00 pm

No. 7 Bates at No. 2 Bowdoin – 1:00 pm
No. 6 Williams at No. 3 Middlebury – 1:00 pm
No. 5 Trinity at No. 4 Amherst – 1:00 pm

Saturday, November 8 at Highest Remaining Seed

Semifinals – games at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Highest remaining seed vs. lowest remaining seed
Remaining first round winners

Sunday, November 9

Final - 12:00 pm

Semifinal winners