The women’s soccer team extended their shutout streak to three games this week with a pair of victories over Brandeis University and the University of Southern Maine (USM). The Polar Bears improve to 7-1-1, with six shutouts already tallied.
On Saturday, the team topped Brandeis—ranked 17th nationally—with a 4-0 victory. Abby Einwag ’15 led the team in the first half, scoring the first goal of the match in just the ninth minute of play off a cross from Kiersten Turner ’16. Ten minutes later, Einwag and Turner executed a nearly identical play, giving the Polar Bears a 2-0 lead. Early in the second half, Turner managed to tally a point of her own, beating a pair of Brandeis defenders to score the third goal of the game. Bowdoin’s final point came midway through the second half, when captain Becky Stoneman ’14 lofted the ball off a free kick into the box where Molly Popolizio ’14 was able to connect and net the header. Keeper Bridget McCarthy ’16 continued her impressive season, collecting a total of nine saves for the Polar Bears.
On Tuesday, the Polar Bears were able to come out on top again, beating USM 6-0. Turner got the Polar Bears on the board within ten minutes of the first half, sending a rebound from Popolizio to the back of the net. A few minutes later, Kathleen Smith ’15 sent a long ball into the box, where Popolizio was able to serve the ball to forward Audrey Phillips ’16, who sent a shot into the Husky net and ended the first half 2-0.
Following halftime, Jenna DiCicco ’15 was able to break through the Huskies’ defense to loft the ball into the far corner. Ten minutes later, Demi Feder ’17 netted a shot from midfield and followed up minutes later with another tally that bounced off the post and into the goal. With less than three minutes left of play, Marissa Tidona ’17 added one more to the scoreboard by tapping in a loose ball that the USM goalie had fumbled. Bowdoin led the game with 51 shots on goal while also holding a 13-0 advantage in corner kicks. McCarthy started in net before Casey Krause ’17 took over for the final twenty minutes.
Coach Brianne Weaver, who is in her second year of coaching the team, attributed much of this season’s success to the strength of the Polar Bear defense.
“We have four veteran defenders and a veteran goalkeeper who understand what it takes to compete at the highest level all season long,” she said. “They hold themselves to very high standards and work together beautifully.”
According to Weaver, the team is employing several new strategies this year in order to keep up the winning streak.
“We’ve subbed often and this has worked to our advantage in every game,” she said. “It wears on opponents to have to continually adjust to fresh legs and a new style of play, so our teamwork can pay huge dividends over the course of a match.”
This Saturday, Bowdoin will take on undefeated and top-seeded Trinity.