Courtesy of Brian Beard

On Saturday, the women’s lacrosse team (8–5; 4–4 NESCAC) defeated Williams College (7–5; 3–5 NESCAC) 10–6 in its fourth conference win of the season. After a string of away games, the Polar Bears will return to Whittier Field this weekend to take on Wesleyan University (10–2; 5–2 NESCAC) in its Senior Day matchup and penultimate game of the regular season.

Ainsley Ramsey ’24, Ellie Schofield ’24 and Molly Reed ’27 scored two goals apiece, with Bowdoin tallying a total of 17 forced turnovers and holding a 15–5 edge in draw controls. Goaltender Izzy Cisneros ’24 made four saves for the win.

Williams took an early 1–0 lead, but Bowdoin’s defense responded by holding them to a lone goal until the third quarter. Schofield praised the team’s ability to work seamlessly between offense and defense.

“A lot of people did really well down behind the net and were able to run the ball all the way up the midfield, so the defense really had the offense’s back in the game,” Schofield said.

With such close NESCAC matchups, the team had to maintain its mental strength in order to win.

“We really came in with the mentality that we needed to want [the win] more in order to win that game. And I think that’s what really came through our playing,” midfielder Ellie Schofield ’24 said.

In the fourth quarter, Williams went on a 3–1 run to bring the score to 8–5. Ramsey responded by netting back-to-back goals within 90 seconds to put the game out of reach for the Ephs.

“We knew that it would be really good to win, and so I think we came into it with a really high intensity level, and we just wanted to put them into the ground a little bit,” Ramsey said.

Schofield also attributed the team’s recent success to changes in team culture.

“I feel like we’ve had a big team culture shift … starting off the field and then transitioning on the field,” Schofield said. “We’re really trying to focus on that and just focusing on … our skills but also the mindset that has helped us to win in previous games.”

Ramsey described the support and energy of each individual member as rippling out within the team.

“When one person is ready to go and … does something good, it spreads to the whole team,” Ramsey said. “Everyone’s really supporting each other and wants everyone to do well, which is a good feeling.”

Within the NESCAC, teams are often playing to similar skill levels, meaning any matchup could go to either team.

“We’ve been working on … being able to play offense versus a man or a zone defense, so switching between those two and reading what the defense is doing,” Schofield said. “And then mentality—just coming in knowing that we have to be the grittier team because in the NESCAC virtually everyone has the same skill, so it’s about who’s going to try harder.”

Schofield also spoke to how unique the team’s trusting culture is to this year.

“I think that trust really comes across off the field and then also on the field, just in having confidence with the ball yourself, but then also trusting your teammates to do the right thing,” Schofield said. “I think that this team is probably the most supportive and enthusiastic I’ve ever been part of at Bowdoin, but certainly anywhere else as well.”

Schofield described what the team has been working on in anticipation both this weekend and the NESCAC quarterfinals.

“I think that in the NESCAC games we’ve been successful in, we’ve seen that we’re focusing on those things like draw controls, reading the defense to play good attack and then also locking down on defense,” Schofield said.

Ramsey is optimistic the team will be able to capitalize on this weekend’s home field advantage.

“Going into the next couple of games, I think it was really good to have a win right before Wesleyan and Tufts. I think those will both be really difficult games,” Ramsey said. “I’m excited that they’re both home, I think that’ll bring really good vibes and hopefully winning energy.”

The team is hopeful that it will be able to succeed against any team in the NESCAC.

“I think that we’re overall just trying to work on our attitude and be like, ‘we are ready to beat these teams,’” Ramsey said. “Even if people think that we can’t, we’re ready and we can and we will.”