Having won the past two out of three games against NESCAC opponents and blowing out another non-conference team, the women's soccer team has certainly had a successful two weeks.
The Bears easily took care of host Bridgewater State on Tuesday. Sophomore Ellery Gould scored the first goal in only the 11th minute of play. The team went on to add three more goals before the final whistle blew, marking the end of a game in which the winner never seemed to be in question.
However, just three days before the win, Bowdoin defeated Wesleyan University in a 2-1 overtime thriller. Although the Polar Bears controlled the flow of play in the first half, outshooting Wesleyan 7-2, neither side was able to score before going into the break. But in the 67th minute of the game, Gould broke the tie when she received a slotted ball from Dana Riker '10 and then confidently beat the keeper from only a few yards out. Wesleyan answered just five minutes later when Kaylin Berger poked the ball into the left side of the net after a scramble inside the box.
At the end of regulation, neither team had scored again, pushing the game into overtime. Less than four minutes into the first period of extra time, Gould scored the game-winning goal when she put in a corner at the far post.
"Everyone rose to the occasion and we played with the determination to win," said Gould.
With the win, Bowdoin improved to 3-3 in the conference and into fifth place going into Saturday's game.
In the week before these two victories, the Polar Bears suffered a disappointing loss to Colby at home but trounced Connecticut College in New London.
Only 11 minutes into the midweek game against Colby, Nikki Pinsering '12 scored the first and only goal of the game after slipping past the Bowdoin defense and shooting a ball beyond junior goalie Kat Flaherty, off the left post, and into the goal. It was Colby's first ever win against the Polar Bears in the history of Colby's women's soccer program.
The disappointing loss came only days after the Bears blew out Connecticut College and seemed to be on the rise. Gould once again led the way, scoring three goals in the contest. But it was first year forward Toni Dacampo who made the first tally in the 21st minute of the game. Dicampo picked the ball off in the box and blasted it into the net from close range. Gould would go on to widen the margin, with goals in the 27th, 41st, and the 69th minute of the game. The Bears returned home having easily defeated the Camels by a score of 4-0.
After the game, Gould was named NESCAC player of the week. Gould now has 10 goals on the season and leads the league in that category. She now also leads the league with 22 points in the year.
The Bears, now 6-4 in the season standings and 3-3 in NESCAC standings, will have their toughest challenge of the year as they take on undefeated Williams this coming weekend.
"They always have a good team, but we are excited at the chance of beating one of the best teams in the country," said junior tri-captain Christina Aceto. The game is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m.