GORHAM, Maine  –Sophomore Kara Finnerty (Hopkinton, Mass./St. Marks School) scored three times to lead the nationally-ranked Bowdoin College Polar Bears to a 3-0 shutout win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference field hockey game Monday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

With the win, tenth-ranked Bowdoin earns its second straight victory to improve to 5-2 overall. Both of Bowdoin's losses have come at the hands of nationally-ranked opponents.  Southern Maine slips to 4-7 with the loss.

Finnerty's first two goals came in the opening half to given the Polar Bears a solid 2-0 lead at the break.  Finnerty scored in the third minute tapping in a driven assist from junior Elizabeth Bennewitz (Westport, Conn./Staples) following one of 11 Bowdoin penalty corners. Finnerty doubled the lead midway through the half, scoring in the 19th minute redirecting a pass from classmate Tala Glass (Glencoe, Ill./North Shore County).  Finnerty scored the final goal of the game in the 52nd minute to notch the hat trick with an unassisted goal after a rebound on Bennewitz's original shot . 

USM freshman goalkeeper Anna Huff (Norway, Maine/Oxford Hills) turned in a strong performance in net making seven saves.  Freshman Maddie Ferrucci (Essex, Conn./Groton School) earned the win.  She did not make a save in 52:04 of action.  Freshman Eva Verzani (Maplewood, N.J./Newark Academy) played the final 17:56, and recorded a save.

Southern Maine returns to action on the road and will face Colby College (6:00 pm) in a non-conference game on Wednesday.  Bowdoin plays UMaine Farmington at home on Wednesday (6:00 p.m.) in a non-conference match up.

–cac–