Ingrid Oelschlager

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Athlete of the Week

November 12, 2010

Another season, another NESCAC championship for senior captain Ingrid Oelschlager and the field hockey team. Oelschlager has been an integral part of three NESCAC and two NCAA championship teams, and her performance in this year's NESCAC tournament was no exception.

This past weekend, Oelschlager earned her recently announced spot on the First Team All-NESCAC squad by leading the Polar Bears to their fifth NESCAC title in six years.

In overtime of the semifinals against Amherst, Oelschlager set up the game-winning goal after her shot deflected to Katie Herter '12, who knocked in the rebound to clinch the victory.

In the finals against Tufts, the team to which, a week earlier, Bowdoin suffered its only loss of the season, the senior captain netted two goals to seal a 3-0 Polar Bear victory.

Coach Nicky Pearson noted how important Oelschlager's back-to-back goals were in the championship.

"A 2-0 lead can be very dangerous, we learnt that against Amherst the previous day," she said. Amherst had rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime in what was ultimately a 3-2 Bowdoin victory. "[Oelschlager's] second goal just after half time to put us up 3-0 was critical."

For her tournament performance, Oelschlager was also named NESCAC Player of the Week.

Awards and accolades are nothing new to the senior from Roanoke, Virginia. In addition to winning two national championships in her first year and sophomore seasons, Oelschlager has been named 2007 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, two-time First Team All-NESCAC (2009 and 2010) and a 2009 Second Team All-American.

This season, Oelschlager leads the Polar Bears in assists (eight) while also tallying six goals.

Pearson called her a "complete player", one who is equally dominant on offense and defense.

"We expect Ingrid to contribute the full length of the field," Pearson said. "One minute she is scoring the next she is in our defensive circle denying our opponents best player."

Oelschlager, who takes pride in the Polar Bears' defense-first philosophy, shares similar praise for her team.

"I can never describe all of the things I have learned from my coaches and teammates," the midfielder said.

Asked to remember her fondest memory from Bowdoin's most recent championship weekend, Ingrid quickly pointed to the euphoria of mobbing goalie Emily Neilson '11.

"We all were so excited not only to win NESCACs, but to beat Tufts on their own field."

But the national championships remain Ingrid's fondest memory of her Bowdoin career. To Oelschlager, the success of the team trumps any individual accomplishments.

This weekend, Bowdoin hosts a second round NCAA tournament game tomorrow at 11 a.m. on Howard F. Ryan Field and, with a victory, a third round game is scheduled for noon on Sunday. Oelschlager is looking forward to extending her college career and adding to her memory bank.

She said that her goals for the tournament are "[Playing well], having fun against some of the best teams in the nation and looking to win another national championship."

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