The field hockey team will lace up its turf shoes this coming weekend for the opening game of the 2009 season. The team finished with an impressive 19-2 record last season which, along with their NESCAC Championship victory and Division III NCAA title, have placed the Polar Bears at the top of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association preseason poll.
However, this season is by no means a walk in the park. Graduating the most successful class in the history of Bowdoin College field hockey has left very large shoes to fill in the starting line-up.
"It is tough without the leadership of last year's eight seniors, but we are a new team this year, different strengths and a different dynamic," said co-captain Kara Kelley '10. "Graduating eight seniors also gives players opportunities to step up."
Additionally, the team will have to adapt to the new dead ball rule that the NESCAC has adopted. This change enables a player to advance the ball herself after a stoppage is in play, instead of being required to pass the ball to a teammate.
"With the new rule, the game will be quicker, and therefore we have to be in better shape, which we are. The new rule also gives us the chance to change up our game by allowing us to either keep up the tempo of the game and use the self pass rule, or to slow things down and use a free hit," added Kelley.
Nevertheless, the Polar Bears remain committed to continuing the success of the field hockey program in the face of these adversities under the excellent guidance of Head Coach Nicky Pearson and Assistant Coaches Maureen Curran and Chris Waltham.
"In practice we have been focusing on perfecting the fundamentals in order to keep our playing crisp and clean—because sometimes a correctly executed pull or a flat, smooth pass can be what determines the outcome of a close game," said Michaela Calnan '11.
The five new first years on the 2009 field hockey squad are reported to be quickly adjusting to the collegiate level of play and have brought a unique set of skills that will add to the overall strength and depth of the Polar Bears this season.
Team captains Shavonne Lord '10 and Kara Kelley '10 will lead the Polar Bears onto the field this Saturday for the opening game against the Lord Jeffs of Amherst College. The field hockey team has performed well against Amherst recently, going 7-2 in the last 7 years. They have also outscored the Lord Jeffs 18-6 in their previous nine meetings.
"I think the team's expectation is to be as, if not, more successful as we have been in the past," Calnan said. "Based on where we are now in practice, the potential we showed in the preseason scrimmage and how hard everyone worked on their skills and fitness this summer, we have the potential to be more successful."