Outscoring opponents 26-1, the field hockey team extended their winning streak in the wake of their September 22 loss to Middlebury, ceding only one goal to opponents in the five games since that 2-1 defeat. 
After defeating out of conference opponent University of Maine-Farmington in a 7-0 blowout, the Polar Bears hosted Connecticut College for a NESCAC match-up on September 29. 
Bowdoin scored early and incessantly. Less than four minutes into the first half, Brooke Phinney ’13 scored on a corner from Katie Riley ’14.  Coach Nicky Pearson said this early goal on the Camel’s first-year goalkeeper “set the tone” and gave the Polar Bears momentum. 
Bowdoin went on to score three more in the first half, thanks to Rachel Kennedy ’16, Emily Simonton ’15, and Lauren Schroeder ’14. 
Pearson said her team owed its dominant play to their constant ball movement and execution of a specific game plan. 
The scoring continued into the second half, with Phinney netting three more goals for the Polar Bears, securing the victory. 
Phinney’s nine-point performance is uncharacteristic of Bowdoin’s usually-even scoring distribution. According to Pearson, the senior’s role as the sweeper allows her to anchor the defensive unit and also involve herself in transitions and corners, giving them access to the whole field. 
Bowdoin conceded their first and only goal in the past five games when they hosted Bates on October 2. With less than six minutes left in the first half, the Bobcats finished a rebound off a corner to take a 1-0 advantage. 
The Polar Bears responded just minutes later with an equalizer from Riley. 
Both Bates and Bowdoin vied for control until Kennedy scored the go-ahead with just two minutes left in the half. In the final seconds of the first half, Riley increased Bowdoin’s lead to 3-1, ensuring Bowdoin’s momentum into the second half. 
Kennedy scored again to open the second half, followed by two more goals from Riley to secure the lopsided 6-1 victory. 
Next, the Polar Bears traveled to Colby to face another in-state rival. Riley opened scoring once again off an assist from Cathleen Smith ’13. 
Smith went on to score a goal in each half, assisted by Riley and Phinney respectively, to seal the win for Bowdoin. 
When Bowdoin hosted Williams, they matched their previous shutout, defeating the Ephs 3-0. 
Phinney once again converted on corners for the Polar Bears, as she pummeled two in a row into the back of the net to lead the Ephs 2-0 at halftime. Riley assisted Adrienne O’Donnell ’15 for the third uncontested goal of the game.  
Despite the shutout, Williams worked the Bowdoin defense and at times utilized holes to make attacking advances—holes Pearson says must be closed up during practice this week. 
The five game win streak has not bred complacency for the Polar Bears. NESCAC victories rarely come easily, and Pearson says her team realizes a 70 minute sustained effort is imperative to beat anyone in the competitive conference. 
“I think we learned a lot from that game [Middlebury] and the players have been very committed to working hard at practice and being focused,” Pearson said. 
Bowdoin will play at Hamilton on October 13 at noon and at Amherst on October 14 at 1 p.m.