Four games into the 2013 season, the women’s soccer team has shown no signs of a hangover from a tough ending to last season. This year, the Polar Bears have come out swinging—and so far they’ve followed through. After tying Amherst and defeating University of Maine-Farmington and Bates this past week, they are 3-0-1 overall (2-0-1 NESCAC).
On Saturday, the women traveled to Amherst for a rematch of last year’s NESCAC semifinal. The game was tough and physical, with Amherst maintaining possession for much of the first half. But Bowdoin defended well, protected their 18-yard box, and starting keeper Bridget McCarthy ’16 only needed to make one save to keep Bowdoin level at half.
The second half was a different story. Bowdoin pushed forward on the wings and got in a couple of dangerous attacks. Though they threatened the Jeffs’ net, they could not convert a goal.
Tied at the end of regulation, the game went into overtime. The Polar Bears fought Amherst to a standstill, totaling four shots in both overtime periods to Amherst’s five, and almost won the game when a loose ball fell to Abby Einwag ’15 at the top of the box. Unfortunately, her shot blazed just over the bar.
The next day, the Bears traveled to UMaine-Farmington for their first out-of-conference game. Though the scoreboard showed only a two-goal victory after 90 minutes, the shot count told a much better story of the game—25-1 in favor of Bowdoin. Captain and center-attacking midfielder Molly Popolizio ’14 was enthusiastic about the depth of the squad.
“I don’t think many teams can say they have as much of a bench as we do,” she said.
Popolizio attributed much of the team’s depth to the nine first years Head Coach Brianne Weaver brought in this season.
On Tuesday, the women beat Bates in Lewiston, taking the lead in an even first half that could have gone either way. The second half, on the other hand, belonged entirely to Bowdoin, as they dominated possession, frustrating their opponent’s attempts to get back into the game. With less than a minute left, Kiersten Turner ’16 scored her second goal of the day to seal the Polar Bears’ third win and maintain their undefeated record.
This Saturday, the team looks to defend their lead in the NESCAC standings against Middlebury, whom Popolizio said she thinks will be one of their toughest obstacles to winning the league. Bowdoin has not beaten the Panthers since she’s been on the team.
In order to continue their hot start, Popolizio said that the team needs to continue to play with a lot of energy. She cited hustle, quick defensive recovery, disciplined one-on-one defending and good goalkeeping as the reasons the team has given up only one goal in four games so far.