The women's rugby team came away with its second win against Bates this season with an even more decisive victory of 22-0.
"They play a physical, rough game, and we play smarter, not harder," Coach MaryBeth Mathews said.
Although the team fought hard to dominate in the first half, it was still a close game with a score of 5-0. The try was scored with a blind-side attack designed to create an overlap. Anna Nicol '11 scored the try with an assist from Maria Koenigs '09.
"We ended the first half at the goal line, but didn't score. We were right there knocking on the door," Mathews said.
In the second half, the team took advantage of Bates's penalties.
"We played with discipline and poise and continued to play our game, not Bates's," Mathews said.
Alivia Moore '09 started the second half with a try, which solidified the Bears' lead.
The team's goal for the game was to get the ball to the wings and use speed to score, and they followed through. All four of the tries scored were by backs. Hannah Larson '10 brought speed to the wings. Nicol scored another try in the second half off a bounce. Becky Stevens '11 converted a kick to bring the score to 22.
On October 4, the Polar Bears defeated University of New Hampshire in a tight game, 29-22, in New Hampshire.
"Anytime you go to their field, play tough and win, that's really satisfying because they are a good team," Mathews said.
Coming out strong in the first half, the ladies held a lead of 19-0. Jessica Walker '09 scored the first try off a play called the peel and tap after Stevens had a kick, which helped gain significant territory.
UNH failed to clear the ball from its end-zone with a kick, and Koenigs picked the ball up off the bounce and ran the ball back in to score another try, Catherine Jaeger '09 scored another try and Stevens converted two kicks in the first half.
In the second half the opponent came out much stronger.
"We definitely missed tackles on them when they worked the ball to the sides," Mathews said. Although the Wildcats dominated in the second half, both times the Polar Bears entered UNH's endzones, they scored. Lizbeth Lopez '09 scored the first try and Stevens scored the second.
The Polar Bears will play University of Maine-Orono on Saturday on home turf. If they win, Bowdoin will host the first game of the playoffs.