The Bowdoin Field Hockey Team traveled to Gorham and beat the University of Southern Maine (9-9 overall) on Tuesday afternoon.
Despite being faced with the challenge of playing on grass instead of turf, the Polar Bears recorded a shutout and scored four goals. With 12 wins and just one loss this season, Bowdoin is ranked sixth in the STX/NFHCA Division III national poll this week.
Junior Hillary Hoffman proved an offensive threat against USM as she scored two goals, with assists coming from sophomores Lindsay McNamara and Julia King. McNamara also tallied the first goal of the game. Sophomore forward Tamlyn Frederick slid the fourth and final goal in with a few minutes left to play.
"Despite playing on grass we were still able to play our own game," Frederick said. "The goals and assists tallied in this game came from several different players, showing that we have many reliable resources on this team. No matter what surface we play on and no matter what obstacles we face, we have proved we can pull together to come up with a team win."
Saturday, in its last regular season home game, Bowdoin scored twice to beat Trinity (5-3 NESCAC) by a score of 2-0. Senior captain Burgess LePage opened up the scoring early on after sophomore Kate Gormley slipped her the ball. Following her lead, McNamara scored off a pass from Hillary Hoffman a minute later.
"We played hard and we played well. Two quick goals scored back to back was just enough to knock them back on their heels so that we could maintain control of the game," said King.
Before the game, five seniors were honored for their four-year dedication to the team, and the most impressive record in program history. The seniors have been crucial to Bowdoin's success, said first-year Emily McKinnon.
"They are all incredible athletes, leaders, and students, and have been role models for all of us on the team," she said. "They really set the tone for the entire season, and I look up to them and have so much respect for all five of them because of dedication and passion they bring to the team."
Looking ahead to a road trip to Connecticut on Saturday, Bowdoin knows it needs to prepare for Wesleyan (3-5 NESCAC).
"Despite their record they are a strong team who is looking to damage our record, and also will probably hold a little grudge from our win against them last year in the NESCAC tournament," said senior Kate Leonard. "To win we need to come out on fire."
And if the Polar Bears can find that fire, a win would give them a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NESCAC tournament for the second year in a row.