The women’s hockey team played seven games during winter break, going 4-2-1. The team’s record is currently 8-3-3 (4-1-1 NESCAC).
In the second day of the New Year, the Polar Bears traveled to Minnesota to take on the University of St. Thomas. Bowdoin defeated the Tommies 4-3 in overtime. One day later, Bowdoin beat Hamline University 4-1.
According to Head Coach Marissa O’Neil, the team built important chemistry during their trip to the Midwest.
“We played against two tough teams out there, but the bonding and chemistry we were looking for was really getting built,” O’Neil said. “It’s tough in the first semester when we have fall athletes joining us, and we have exams and reading period. That chemistry definitely contributed to our success while we were out there and since we’ve been back.”
That Friday, Bowdoin played Connecticut College in the first game of its doubleheader. The Polar Bears lost 2-1 but avenged the loss with a 3-1 win the next day. On January 13, Bowdoin lost 6-3 to the University of Southern Maine.
Last weekend, Bowdoin played back-to-back games at Wesleyan. In Friday’s game, the Polar Bears were able to strike first, when senior captain Schuyler Nardelli scored with three minutes left in the first period. The Cardinals tied the game in the second period and took the lead with fewer than four minutes left in regulation play. The Polar Bears were able to answer, with Julie Dachille ’18 scoring less than a minute later to push the game into overtime. Neither team was able to score during the five minute overtime period, leaving the final score at 2-2.
The next day, Bowdoin shut out Wesleyan in a 2-0 victory. O’Neil believes that seeing Wesleyan play in the first game helped the Polar Bears prepare for the second game.
“Going into Saturday, we knew some areas where we could tighten our game and execute better,” said O’Neil. “Also, having seen them, we realized how we could best play to our strengths given what they were trying to accomplish out there.”
Captain Chelsea MacNeil ’15 scored first for the Polar Bears in the first period. With fewer than four minutes left in the second period, Maddie Baird ’15 added another goal to extend the lead. Lan Crofton ’17 made 30 saves in net in her third shutout of the season.
The Polar Bears will conclude their season with ten conference matchups.
“Hopefully, we’ll be in contention to be in the NESCAC playoffs,” O’Neil said. “Our goal would be to host a quarterfinal game, which would mean we end up in the top four. That’s where we have our sights set now, but certainly nothing is decided just yet.”
In order to finish the season strong, O’Neil believes the team can be more consistent.
“We’ve talked about being able to play for 60 minutes and not to start off slow or have a let down throughout the game,” O’Neil said. “If we can put together 60 minutes, teams are going to have a tough time beating us.”
Bowdoin returns to the ice tonight at 7 p.m., starting a weekend of back-to-back games against Middlebury.