The Bowdoin Women's Lacrosse Team, ranked fifth in a preseason national poll, have so far earned that distinction. The Polar Bears returned from a Spring Break lacrosse trip to West Palm Beach undefeated.
The first win came against Hobart and William Smith, also ranked in the top ten in national polls. Hobart took the lead early scoring two goals, but the Bowdoin defense, led by senior co-captain Courtney Welch, Brigid Burke '05, Betsy Rose '06, and Whitney Hogan '07, denied Hobart for the rest of the half.
Sophomore Taylor White led an offensive burst in the first half, scoring three goals, with senior co-captain Colleen McDonald and Taryn King '07 adding a goal a piece, making it 5-2 at the half. Hobart came within one goal in the second half, but it was McDonald who sealed the victory with a goal late in the second half, giving Bowdoin a 6-4 victory.
Bowdoin improved to 2-0 after a 9-5 victory over Skidmore College. The Polar Bears showcased their offensive talent and depth with six different scorers. Kate Donaghue '07, Lyndsey Colburn '08, and White each scored twice, while Jena Davis '06, Brooke Nentwig '06, and Jill Steigerwald '07 each added a goal. Senior goalie Kendall Cox had a stellar performance, making nine saves in net.
The Polar Bears continued to shine offensively against Babson College, scoring twelve first-half goals and routing Babson, 16-3. Davis, King and Colburn each had hat-tricks to lead the scoring. White added two goals, while Donaghue, McDonald and first years Grace Moore and Bobbi Dennison each scored once.
On the other end of the field the defense stayed strong, allowing only three goals, with tremendous efforts from Courtney Wagner '06, Jenna Pariseau '07 and first-years Heidi Mills and Ali Draught. Cox was strong in goal with four saves and first year Kori Lamontagne saw her first college save in the victory.
Bowdoin's final game in West Palm Beach was yet another win. The Polar Bears continued to dominate with a 12-4 victory over Eastern Connecticut State College. McDonald scored three goals and Donaghue added two. Colburn, King, Nentwig, Davis, White and Moore each scored once. Cox only had to make four saves behind the defense of Burke, Rose and Hogan.
The Polar Bears headed back North to face undefeated Wheaton College on their home turf finding victory yet again with a 12-7 win. The ladies took an early lead with a score of 5-1 with just seven minutes remaining in the half, but an offensive burst by Wheaton left the teams tied at half.
Both teams then came back on the field with goals, but the Bears went on a 5-0 run that guaranteed victory. Dennison had a break out game scoring three goals. Steigerwald, McDonald, and White added two goals each, while King, Nentwig, and Welch each scored once.
For the defense it was yet another tremendous game, led by Hogan, Rose, Burke, and Cox who had four saves in the net for the Polar Bears.
Bowdoin's next game comes Saturday against Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where the Bears hope to remain undefeated and rise even higher in the national polls. The team's next home game is scheduled for April 10 against Williams. Come out and support women's lacrosse!