Bowdoin to host field hockey championships

With a 2-0 victory over Bates on Sunday, the Bowdoin Polar Bears earned the right to host the NESCAC field hockey championship semifinals and finals this upcoming Saturday. The playoff picture was settled last weekend as Wesleyan gained the tournament's fourth seed after sneaking by fifth seed Colby 2-1 in sudden death. Number three Middlebury also needed to go to the extra period to defeat sixth seed Bates 3-2. Williams, on the heels of a victory over nemesis Amherst, will now take on Middlebury this Saturday, while Bowdoin will utilize its home field advantage against Wesleyan.

Bates running back Sean Atkins put in an impressive performance on his opponent's football field as he led his squad to a convincing 48-28 victory over Bowdoin. Atkins had one of the greatest performances in NESCAC history, carrying the ball 38 times for 298 yards and amassing seven touchdowns on the day. Both his yardage and touchdown totals set Bates records.

In other football news, Wesley Connors of Williams earned defensive player of the week honors due in large part to his four-sack performance against Wesleyan. The champagne is on ice for Williams, who is one win away from another perfect season. The 7-0 Ephs are clinging to a one-game lead over Trinity, which currently stands 6-1. Hamilton, on the flip side, faces the prospect of finishing the year without one victory, as it will get its last chance this Saturday. The team is 0-7.

The Amherst soccer team put a halt to Tuft's post-season in the first round of the NESCAC last Sunday with a 2-1 victory. The most valuable player for the Lord Jeffs was goalkeeper Greg Lockwood. Lockwood, a freshman, played like a seasoned veteran, stopping seven Jumbo shots on goal.

In the other first round match-ups, Williams defended its home turf with a convincing 5-1 victory over Wesleyan, and Middlebury was equally dominating in its 5-1 defeat of Trinity. The two semifinal matchups, both to be played this Saturday, will pit Williams against Middlebury and Amherst against Bowdoin.

While the men's team wraps up a disappointing season, Tufts' women's soccer team could relax last Saturday after it earned a bye into the semifinals. Shaping up the rest of the NESCAC tournament, Bowdoin sneaked by Trinity 1-0, while Williams won easily shutting out Middlebury 3-0. Connecticut College stole one on the road against Amherst 2-1. The semifinals will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 as Bowdoin will take on Williams and Connecticut College will travel to Medford to take on the well-rested Tufts squad.

Eliza Allen of Wesleyan had a match to remember against Amherst. Allen set a single-match record of 32 kills while battling it out with Lady Jeffs. The quarterfinals will take place this Friday at Williams, where Trinity will take on the host, Middlebury will try to upset two seed Colby, Tufts will battle Amherst, and Wesleyan will try to upstage four seed Bates.