The field hockey team improved its record to 12-1 with wins at home against NESCAC foe Connecticut College and Rhodes College.
In Saturday’s Homecoming game against the Camels, the Polar Bears struck first when Rachel Kennedy ’16 scored in the first two minutes of the game.
“Scoring an early goal was crucial in setting the tone, and it got Conn. College on their heels early on,” said Head Coach Nicky Pearson.
Kennedy went on to score two more times in the first half. She and captain Colleen Finnerty ’15 led the team with three goals each. Senior camptain Pam Herter, Kimmy Ganong ’17 and Juliana Fiore ’18 each scored a goal to add to Bowdoin’s lead.
“What’s great about our team is that everyone has the expectation and pressure to score when they’re on the field,” Kennedy said. “We always talk about that. When we’re on the field, each of us has a responsibility to do what we need to do.”
The Polars Bears outshot the Camels 26-4. Hannah Gartner ’15 made three stops for the Polar Bears in the net before Liz Rill ’17 subbed in and played the final nine minutes as goalkeeper. Conn. College did not score until the team capitalized on a penalty corner right as time expired.
Bowdoin’s nine goals were the most they had scored in any game this season. Pearson believes that part of Saturday’s success had to do with the fact that it was Homecoming Weekend.
“I think the players knew that there were a lot of alumni that were back that they really respect, so it was really important for them to play well,” Pearson said. “I think they were really up for this game.”
The Polar Bears won Tuesday’s nonconference game against Rhodes 7-1. The Lynx drew first blood when they scored seven minutes into the game.
“We had a slow start, and giving up an early goal made us play with more intensity and effort,” Pearson said. “We adjusted our positioning in the midfield, and our defense stepped up to the ball better.”
Bowdoin scored seven unanswered goals to win the game, and for the second straight game, Kennedy scored first for the Polar Bears. She finished the game with four goals, bringing her season total to 21 of the 52 goals scored this season. Ganong scored twice, and Adrienne O’Donnell ’15 scored once as Bowdoin outshot Rhodes 34-4.
The team is currently on a six-game win streak. The Polar Bears have outscored their opponents 37-2 during this streak. Kennedy thinks the team’s success so far is a result of strong coaching and team history.
“I think a lot comes from our coach,” Kennedy said. “Every week we have something to work on or build up going into the next game.”
Despite the way the team has been playing, Pearson believes that there is always room for improvement.
“We had some defensive breakdowns against Connecticut College,” Pearson said. “Some of our passing wasn’t as accurate as it needs to be, and there were some times when we were a little careless in how we were playing the ball and making a simple situation into a pressured situation. We’re going to be working on that.”
The team has already qualified for the NESCAC tournament and will finish their regular season with an away game at Colby on October 25 and a home game against Tufts on October 29.
“Honestly, we have enough wins to qualify for the NESCAC tournament, but we’re not really thinking about it,” Pearson said. “Colby is always a huge battle because of the school rivalry, and they’re really talented, and that’s the same with Tufts. We always have a very close game with Tufts.”