The field hockey team kept its undefeated streak alive by beating No. 10 Wellesley College 1-0 on Wednesday night at Howard F. Ryan Field. The Polar Bears handed Wellesley their first loss of the season and improved their own record to 6-0 (4-0 NESCAC).
“It is a pretty big deal that we can play against Wellesley, who [is a] top ranked team,” said captain Colleen Finnerty ’15. “We can hold our own and show them how Bowdoin field hockey can play. It’s pretty incredible.”
Kimmy Ganong ’17 scored the lone goal of the game. Applying offensive pressure, she was able to carry the ball through the midfield and complete a pass to Emily Simonton ’15 at the top of the circle. Simonton played a through-pass over the stroke line back to Ganong, who directed the ball into the left corner.
“We did what we needed to do to get the ball, connect with a teammate,” said Assistant Coach Shannon Malloy. “That’s how we scored. We passed the ball and moved the ball really well, giving [Ganong] the opening to score.”
The Blue’s offensive was strong in the second half, pressuring the Polar Bear’s circle.
“[Wednesday’s] game was the most defensive we’ve played all season,” said Finnerty.
“To be able to hold Wellesley to only seven corners and keep them from scoring on all seven of those corners was a team effort,” Finnerty said. “We counted on every single man that was on that field to keep the ball out of our net.”
Goalie Hannah Gartner ’15 played particularly well against Wellesley in her second straight shutout.
“All of her saves were incredible and were off direct shots off those corners—which a lot of times are the hardest balls to save with how many offenders are coming in at you,” said Finnerty.
“When our goalies make a save or our defense makes a stop, it adds a lot of confidence to the team as a whole,” Malloy said.
The team looks to stay undefeated and continue to dominate on its home turf tomorrow when it welcomes Trinity at 11 a.m.
“There’s a lot of pride at stake when you go out and play on your home field,” said Finnerty. “Everyone needs to come ready to play and fired up to win.”
The Polar Bears go back out of conference on Wednesday night when they travel to Husson University.