Women's field hockey successfully defended a 4-3 lead over Amherst for the first win of its season. First year Katie Herter, a forward, scored the first two goals in last Saturday's matchup against the Lord Jeffs. Emily French '12 assisted with Herter's second goal.
The score was 2-1 in Bowdoin's favor at halftime, but the Polar Bears allowed Amherst to close the gap in the second half.
After junior Elizabeth Clegg scored a goal to bring the score to 3-1, the Lord Jeffs responded by narrowing Bowdoin's lead with a goal and then tying the game with another.
"It was disappointing that Amherst was able to tie us after the half," coach Nancy Pearson said, "but we responded well."
Senior Jessie Small provided the game-winning goal.
Bowdoin's defense got a chance to prove its mettle when, after the fourth goal, it had to block two of Amherst's attempts to score.
The Lord Jeffs had the penalty corner when the clock ran out, which they were allowed to play out.
10 Amherst players swarmed into the circle against only four Bowdoin defenders and the goalkeeper.
This, in particular, was a victory for the Bears, who have been working on pressuring defensively.
Captain Ingrid Oelschlager '11 said that "most of the things we need to work on have to do with defense."
Pearson added, "To not allow Amherst to score and to come away with a win made our defensive corner group feel very good."
However, the team will continue to work on defense, defensive responsibilities and communication, Pearson said. It will also focus on net shots, and encourage forwards to get touches on the ball in the circle.
Oelschlager added that the Amherst victory was "obviously a big win not just because it was the first game of the season, but when we last lost year it came back to haunt us because we didn't get to NCAAs and they did. It was good for us to score four goals, because scoring was a big issue last season."
After the hard-earned win on Saturday the girls faced Wellesley's smaller team for a game on Tuesday. Wellesley, which is in the NEWMAC rather than the NESCAC, has a significantly smaller squad consisting of only 14 to 15 players.
"The fact that we have some significant depth on the team was definitely a factor during the second half," Pearson said.
Thanks to Bowdoin's advantage, the 2-0 halftime score increased to a dramatic 6-0 lead during the second half, giving Bowdoin a big win.
Herter and Small scored two goals apiece, and Clegg scored one. Cathleen Smith '13 scored the sixth and final goal, capping the game.
Wellesley had a few chances to score, but the Polar Bear defense again successfully stemmed the tide.
This Saturday, the Polar Bears will face Bates on the Bobcats' home turf.
Pearson said that while "in the past they haven't been one of the stronger teams in the league, they've always been competitive, especially with us."