|
Volume CXXXIII, Number 13 |
 |
Women's hockey rides shotgun in rankings
REBEKAH METZLER
STAFF WRITER
 |
| Jen Pelkey '04 looks to lead the break against Middlebury. (Colin LeCroy, Bowdoin Orient) |
Bowdoin Women's Ice Hockey has never seen a season quite like this. After
14 games (including a three game road trip over winter break to Minnesota)
the Bears stand at 13-1; the only loss was at the hands of the undefeated,
top-ranked Middlebury Panthers. This is the best start ever for the team
and they have maintained a #2 ranking in the National Poll since early
in the season. The season grinds on, but the Polar Bears keep winning.
Leading scorer on the team Shelly Chessie ('03) says, "We are peaking
at the right time." Indeed, the entire season seems to have been
a peak thus far. Chessie attributes the success to "a group of solid
individuals who combine to make a great team, moreso than any other year
in my career here. There is absolutely no weaklink."
The highlight of the winter break was the team's trip to Minnesota. There,
they faced competetion from St. Thomas (Minn.), Wisconsin-River Falls
(tied for 10th nationally), and Gustavus Adolphus (ranked 5th nationally).
Each matchup lead to a 4-3 win for Bowdoin. The games were "challenging
and full of tough competition," says Chessie. The team was impressed
with the number of Bowdoin support while in Minnesota. Not only were a
few current Bowdoin students in attendance, but a strong following of
Bowdoin Alumni were also present.
Bright spots for the team in the bleak Minnesota weather included a trip
to the Mall of America (where both Chessie and Kirsten Larsen '04 found
"great deals on jackets") and the repeated stops at Barbara
Jean's Diner. Larsen boasts "The french toast was madd good!"
So good in fact that the team had to go back for more than one meal at
the sweet Mom and Pop restaurant. The final word on the trip came from
Jen Pelkey ('04) who said, "You're good, you're good, you're good...you're
on someone's lawn."
Upon their triumphant return to campus, the Bears proceeded to defeat
Trinity and Wesleyan. The ended their break with a win over the University
of Southern Maine and a pair of wins over Connecticut College. Next up
for Bowdoin is a match-up this Friday night with Amherst College. In their
previous meeting this season, Bowdoin came away with a 4-0 victory. Your
attendance on Friday in Dayton Arena will guarantee you an evening filled
with high quality, constant action leading to a satisfying outcome. How
often do you get that guarantee on any night?
Other key match-ups left in the season include playing Colby at home
on Thursday, February 12 immediately followed by a weekend roadtrip to
face-off with arch-rival Middlebury and NESCAC contender Williams. The
ever-confident Larsen claims, "We are going to kick Colby's ass."
The White Mules are currently ranked 8th nationally and sit tied for 2nd
in NESCAC with our very own Polar Bears.
All in all the Women's Ice Hockey season is history in the making. You
owe it to them and mostly to yourself to witness the magic.