The field hockey team dominated on its home turf this week, handily beating Rhodes College 4-0. The Lynx, who traveled from Tennessee for Tuesday's game, were no match for Bowdoin's team effort, with goals coming from four different players.
Senior Sarah Horn netted her first goal of the season in the matchup, with sophomore Lindsay McNamara and seniors Gail Winning and Burgess LePage also tallying goals for the Polar Bears.
In a touching gesture, the Rhodes Field Hockey Team presented Bowdoin with a generous donation to the Taryn King Memorial Fund prior to the game.
"Coming from a team that plays hundreds of miles away and that we'd never met, Rhodes's donation was one of the most unexpected and gracious commemorations to her memory. To know that Taryn's passing touched a team that she had never encountered and to know that they cared enough to reach out and make such a significant donation is truly awe inspiring," said Horn.
On Saturday, the Polar Bears traveled to Connecticut College and beat the Camels 3-1. The Camels (1-5 NESCAC) had quick forwards, but senior captain LePage said the key to shutting them down was "that our attackers were relentless in the circle, keeping pressure on Conn's defense and goalie."
The game stayed even at 0-0, but an offensive charge by the Polar Bears produced three goals in nine minutes. LePage scored the first goal, and forwards McNamara and Maddie McQueeney '09 tallied the second and third goals, respectively, soon after.
"Despite being tied at the half we were dominating offensively and backing up our play with strong defense. Once we scored, we fell into our groove," said sophomore defender Leah Ferenc.
The Camels challenged the three-goal lead in the final minutes of the game. The strong Polar Bear defense and diving saves by senior netminder Kate Leonard kept the Camels to one goal and preserved the win for Bowdoin.
Before fall break, the Polar Bears beat both Tufts and Bates by scores of 2-1 in important league games. Against Tufts (3-3 NESCAC) key goals were scored by McNamara and Winning. Sophomore midfielder Julia King had two assists in the win. Bates dropped to 1-4 in the league when the Polar Bears came from behind last Wednesday. McNamara scored off of a penalty stroke to tie the game, and also slid the ball to junior Hillary Hoffman who buried the game winner before halftime.
Looking to the rest of the season, McNamara remarked that "the last three games are big for us because we are currently tied with Williams and Middlebury for first place. Winning these games will be key to gaining home advantage in the NESCAC tournament."
Bowdoin will play Trinity (1-5 NESCAC) on Saturday before playing the University of Southern Maine away on Tuesday.