Passing by Pickard Fields on Monday, one might have wondered if a few dozen trick-or-treaters had gotten lost and ended up on the Howard Ryan artificial turf.
Upon closer examination, one would have noticed that the pumpkins and devils were not young children and that they held field hockey sticks. Monday, October 31 was the annual Halloween field hockey practice.
If any team deserves a break from tough practices and conditioning, it is the field hockey team. Finishing the regular season with a 14-0 record, the squad clinched the conference and a home-field advantage in the NESCAC championships.
This season would not have been possible without the outstanding leadership demonstrated by senior captain Christi Gannon.
Not only is Gannon an "offensive powerhouse," co-captain Burgess LePage '07 said, "She has been described as the team mom because of her warm, comforting aura."
Gannon is ranked ninth in career goals at Bowdoin, and a fantastic sophomore season placed her fifth in most goals scored in a single season.
Head coach Nicki Pearson, who Gannon believes was instrumental in the team's successful season, added, "Not only has she scored some key game-winning goals, but she has also created some golden opportunities for other forwards."
Not all of Gannon's contributions to the team show up as statistics. "It is so clear how much she wants to win, and that desire trickles down to the rest of the team as we follow the example she sets," co-captain Margaret Gormley '06 said.
Coming to Bowdoin with eight years of field hockey experience under her belt helped prepare Gannon for her college career.
"As a freshman here at Bowdoin, I saw quite a bit of playing time," Gannon said. "My absolute love of the game has kept me going these past four years."
After receiving NESCAC All-Academic honors her junior year, Gannon was chosen to be one of three captains for her final season. Gannon is known among teammates and coaches for successfully managing her time. "Field hockey has taught me the discipline required for the academic workload, and I am very grateful for that," she said.
LePage added, "She is dedicated to ensuring that her teammates are handling the many pressures that come with trying to juggle academic, athletic, and social life."
While she is honored to lead the undefeated squad, she gives credit to her co-captains, teammates, and coaches for this season's success. "Our scoring distribution this year really reflects how our season is the result of a genuine team effort," Gannon said.
"We have a tremendous amount of talent and depth which distinguishes us from other NESCAC teams," Gannon said. "Every player on the squad is skilled and contributes something unique."
Gannon is looking ahead to the postseason. "I really think we have the determination, drive, and heart to be champions," she said, adding, "I can't wait to show what we're made of in the postseason."