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BRUNSWICK — Tufts didn’t think of the New England Small College Athletic Conference tournament final against Bowdoin as a revenge game. But just as Bowdoin handed Tufts its first defeat in their regular season finale, the Jumbos returned the favor Sunday.

Tufts (17-1), ranked second in the most recent NCAA Division III poll, scored 10 straight goals against No. 1 Bowdoin (16-1) and withstood a late push to earn a 18-14 victory and their 13th conference title in the past 15 years.

Both teams will find out their Division III tournament draw at 9 p.m. Sunday. Bowdoin and Tufts will likely host the second and third round games on May 9-10.

“Obviously we watched the film (from the 14-12 Bowdoin win on April 22), we saw the mistakes we made, we fixed those,” Tufts senior attack Jack Regnery said. “But it was a big point of emphasis for us not to think of this as a revenge game. We like to think of our opponents as nameless and faceless. Show up the same way we would, no matter what, and just play our game.”

Bowdoin was efficient with its possessions and shots on goal early, establishing a 3-2 lead in the first quarter, but Tufts began to control pace of play in the second quarter at the faceoff X. The two-time defending national champs won 20 of 36 faceoffs, and the hosts lost the midfield battle for just the second time all season.

“Playing them, possession’s everything,” Bowdoin head coach Bill Mason said. “They like to play ‘make it, take it.’ They wear on your defense. And so if we’re not getting the ball and wearing on their defense, we’re getting worn down, and that’s where runs can happen.”

Tufts outscored Bowdoin 8-1 in the quarter, started their 10-goal unanswered streak, and extended their third quarter lead to 14-4. The Polar Bears were held scoreless from 11:46 in the second quarter to 6:38 in the third.

Regnery led all scorers with five goals and two assists, Garrett Kelly had four goals and two assists, and Will Emsing contributed two goals and five assists. Jack Old saved eight shots for the Jumbos.

“We were just flowing,” Regnery said. “Our offense was playing off of each other. Our defense was making stops. Faceoff guys were winning the ground balls, getting it back to us. I think that’s what allowed us to get on that run.”

Coming into Sunday’s final, Bowdoin had never trailed by more than three goals at any point this season. Scores from Chris Berry (three goals, assist), NESCAC player of the year Casey Ryan (three goals, two assists), Cormac Walsh (goal, assist) and Ryan Winters (man-up) helped the Polar Bears whittle the deficit to 16-8 entering the fourth quarter.

Mason was proud of his team’s fight as Bowdoin scored the game’s final five goals. Hudson Greene scored his third goal of the day with 4:35 remaining to make it 18-13, but Tufts played stall ball the remainder of the afternoon. Nico Schermer, the league’s defensive player of the year, stamped the final score with less than 1 1/2 minutes remaining.

“NCAA Tournament, if you lose, you’re done,” Mason said. “And so if you’re not desperate, from the first whistle to the last whistle, the other team, that’s more (desperate) will win the game. … I think that’s going to be the key for us, continuing to play desperate.”