Gillian McDonald scored a natural hat trick in the first period to lead Bowdoin to a 5-1 win over Colby in the NESCAC semifinals at Middlebury.
The Polar Bears advance to take on Williams in the championship, Saturday night at 7:30.
Bowdoin opened the scoring 4:34 into the game as McDonald found the back of the net after picking up a rebound just outside the slot. The Polar Bears took a 2-0 lead at the 15:03 mark as Marissa O’Neil found McDonald who broke in all alone for the power-play goal.
McDonald struck again for the natural hat-trick just 1:40 later as she put home a rebound from the slot after a shot from Kirsten Larson.
Cathie Quinlan gave Bowdoin a 4-0 lead early in the second period before Heather DeVito answered with 1:41 left after a rebound. Kirsti Anderson added a third period goal to seal the 5-1 win.
Emily McKissock made 16 saves in goal for Bowdoin, while Lynn Hasday made 26 saves for Colby.
