Women's rugby racked up another win with a solid 20-0 whipping of the Bates Bobcats in Lewiston, Maine.
The Polar Bears may have had some anxieties about this game coming off of their previous loss against Radcliffe, which had the potential to set a bad tone for the season.
"After opening our league season with a loss, it's good to see the team rebound with a solid win," said Coach MaryBeth Mathews.
It was undoubtedly a solid win. Playing true to their Bobcat name, Bates came out swinging, putting early pressure on the Polar Bears by being physical with a strong-run game.
However, great Bowdoin defense and errors by the Bobcats slowed Bates, swinging the momentum in favor of the Polar Bears before the end of the first half.
The shift in pace allowed Bowdoin to get close enough for scrumhalf Becky Stevens '11 to kick in a 3-point penalty kick, getting Bowdoin on the board and sending them into halftime with 3-0 advantage.
The second half was completely dominated by the Polar Bears. Stevens and Elsbeth Paige-Jeffers '11 scored on one and two tries respectively, with Stevens converting her attempt for another two points. This resulted in a score of 20-0 partway through the second half.
Bates continued to mount offensive charges, making several good plays, but staunch Bowdoin defense ended any hopes of tying the match.
The Bowdoin forwards were particularly important to the team's success, allowing the Polar Bears to hold on to turf and preventing the Bates running game from racking up crucial yards.
Nylea Bivins '12, Dani McAvoy '13 and Uche Esonu '13 were each vital to the Bowdoin dominance on defense.
Loryn Fridie '11 led the way with powerful tackling and a great running effort. Senior co-captain Hannah Larson also joined in, celebrating her birthday by marching the ball down the field.
In the end, Bowdoin dominated the field with superior tackling and aggressive running, enabling the Bears to end the game with an impressive 20-0 shutout.
Despite the impressive score, Mathews wasn't surprised by the win.
"The women worked hard at practice all week and played with both a mental and physical edge, proving to themselves that hard work and teamwork do pay off."
That hard and dedicated practice has helped the Polar Bears rise above problems which had plagued them in the past.
"As a fairly young team, they're beginning to understand each other and their positions," said Mathews. "It's encouraging to see them learning to trust each other and play together."
That experience is certainly helping Bowdoin to improve every day.
The Polar Bears are looking ahead to their coming game against the University of Maine Orono with excitement.
Counting scrimmages, Bowdoin is coming into the match 3-1. The team feels confident about the outcome of its game with a team they beat 22-5 last year.
The match will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Orono.