LEXINGTON, Va. — Rachel Kennedy scored twice as Bowdoin defeated Ursinus 4-2 in an NCAA Division III field hockey semifinals Saturday to advance to the national championship game for the third straight year.

The top-ranked Polar Bears (21-0), seeking their fifth NCAA title in nine years, will battle New England Small College Athletic Conference rival Middlebury at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Kelsey Mullaney gave Bowdoin a 1-0 lead when she scored off a penalty corner with 9:29 left in the first half. Mettler Growney inserted the ball to Emily McColgan, who slipped a pass to Mullaney in the center of the circle.

Five minutes later, Nicole Barbieri made it 2-0. Kennedy worked the ball down the center of the field, broke through a pair of defenders and drew goalie Danielle DeSpirito out of the net before passing to Barbieri on her right for the open shot.

Kennedy scored on the rebound of a Mullaney shot to increase the lead early in the second half, but Ann Kopera countered for Ursinus off a deflection. Kennedy answered with 10 minutes remaining, deflecting a drive by Mullaney after another penalty corner.

RUGBY

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BOWDOIN 43, KUTZTOWN 24: Paige Pfannenstiel scored four tries and the Polar Bears (9-0) pulled away in the second half to advance to the quarterfinals of the national Division II tournament, at Poughkeepsie, New York.

Le’Shauna Phinazee added two tries and Addison Carvajal had four conversion kicks for Bowdoin, which plays Vassar at 11 a.m. Sunday.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND 101, BATES 46: Alanna Vose and Alicia Brown each scored 10 points in the first quarter as the Nor’easters (2-0) raced out to a 25-5 lead and routed the Bobcats (0-2) in Biddeford.

Vose paced the Nor’easters with 20 points. Brown and Sam MacDonald finished with 17 points apiece.

Nina Davenport scored 14 and Bernadette Connors had 10 for Bates.

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PLATTSBURGH STATE 67, BOWDOIN 60: Allie Taylor scored 16 points to lead the Cardinals (3-0) to a win over the Polar Bears (1-1) in the final of the Cardinal Tip-Off Classic at Plattsburgh, New York.

Bowdoin, which trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, trimmed the deficit to 54-51 on an Abigail Kelly steal and a layup by Kate Kerrigan, but the Cardinals hit five straight from the free-throw line to close out the win.

Marle Curle paced Bowdoin with 16 points.

COLBY 72, WILLIAM SMITH 39: Carylanne Wolfington and Emily Davis each had 14 points to lead the Mules (2-0) over the Herons (1-2) in the championship game of the Cave Classic at Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

ST. JOSEPH’S 75, MAINE MARITIME 55: Kelsi McNamara’s 3-pointer started an opening 9-0 run for the Monks (3-1) against the Mariners (1-2) in Castine.

McNamara and Morgan Cahill each finished with 15 points for St. Joseph’s, which led 42-18 at halftime. Alayne Felix scored 22 points for the Mariners.

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SOUTHERN MAINE C.C. 71, PENN STATE-MONT ALTO 46: Amira Jones scored 10 of her 17 points in the second quarter as the Seawolves (6-1) took control against the Lions (4-3) at South Portland.

Jones also grabbed 11 rebounds, and Jordan Turner scored 15 points for SMCC.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

COLBY 4, BOWDOIN 3: Katie Tang scored 58 seconds into overtime as the Mules (1-1, 1-1 NESCAC) edged the Polar Bears (1-1, 1-1) at Waterville.

Bowdoin tied the game on Jessica Bowen’s second goal of the game with 7:32 left in regulation.

Miranda Bell also scored for Bowdoin. Colby got two goals from Bella Papapetro and one from Sasha Fritts.

UMASS-BOSTON 3, SOUTHERN MAINE 1: Lynn Kozlowski scored and Nia Kelly made 25 saves for USM (1-4-1, 1-4-1 NEHC) in a loss to the Beacons (4-4-0, 4-2-0) in Gorham.

FRANKLIN PIERCE 5, UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND 3: Karsyn Baker had a pair of goals and added an assist as the Ravens (6-2, 4-2 NEHC) topped the Nor’easters (1-4-1, 1-4-1) at Winchendon, Massachuetts.

Abby Kinens scored twice in the third period and Marissa Clifford-Biederman added a last-minute goal for UNE.


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