Volume CXXXIII, Number 2 September 14, 2001 f

Women's soccer: One down, lots to go
JOHN HERNANDEZ
Staff Writer

The Bowdoin Women's Soccer Team started off its season with a 4-0 defeat of Bridgewater State last Saturday. Jill Falwell '04, who was subsequently named the NESCAC Player of the Week for her efforts, scored two goals and had an assist in the team's win. The team hopes that its decisive first win is but a small indication of the success that awaits them this year.

The Bowdoin women have a rich history of success in NESCAC. In addition to boasting an overall winning percentage of .735, the team has reached the NCAA tournament in each of its past six years -a distinction no other NESCAC team can rival. Presently, the team is looking forward to a promising season under the leadership of head coach John Cullen and senior tri-captains Katie Sheridan, Jeanne Nicholson, and Allison Lavoie.

Jill Falwell '04, NBSCAC player of the week. (Colin LeCroy, Bowdoin Orient)

Nicholson is excited about the team's prospects, and expects that it will enjoy yet another winning season. "We are a young team, and we have a lot to live up to, but we are planning on being successful like we always have been," she said. "Winning the NESCAC [championship] is a real possibility for us."

Nicholson was particularly enthusiastic about the outstanding play of Emily Rizza '02, a goalie who returns to the team after studying abroad during last season. Nicholson said that she thinks Rizza's contributions will be of immeasurable value in the team's NESCAC title quest.

Success for the team also depends upon the ability of newcomers to fill the void left by the graduation of seven senior starters. However, junior forward Shellie Chessie suggested that the team isn't too worried about an absence of experience. According to her, in preseason play, "everybody looked good. In particular, our freshman class is strong and has played really well," she said.
Chessie went on to say that the team's starting lineup has been changed dramatically, but that the squad has gelled and is playing well together.

The women's sound defeat of Colby (whom Bowdoin has not lost to in twenty-eight years) during a preseason matchup suggests that the team has truly adjusted to the pressures and changes of being a young team. The Bridgewater State defeat seems to confirm this assumption.

The team must face down some excellent opponents in order to continue its string of early successes. The Lady Polar Bears play Williams tomorrow, and follow with an Amherst matchup on Sunday. The following Saturday, they face Middlebury.

All three home games are expected to be extremely competitive, and should help to project how far the Bowdoin Women's Soccer Team can go this year.