Volume CXXXIII, Number 6 October 19, 2001 f

Women's rugby takes down University of Rhode Island
LINDSAY MORRIS
STAFF WRITER

Parents and visiting friends cheered on the women ruggers last Saturday at Bowdoin's most difficult match of season. The Bear A-side squad defeated the University of Rhode Island's A-side by a score of 25-15, and solidified its first-place standing in the New England Rugby Football Union.

The ruggers got off to a slow start, but as time passed and weather conditions worsened, the team pulled together for the win. Rhode Island brought visible fervor to the game, but with its sloppy presentation, players made several poor and potentially dangerous high tackles. "It was a very physical game, but URI had poor technical skills," captain Katharine Buckspan '02 said. "Bowdoin's tackling in the past two weeks is better then it has been in years."

While aggression from Rhode Island disrupted the back-line's offense, Bowdoin managed the ball with skill and precision.

Junior Nachel Mathoda scored the match's first try after about 15 minutes in the first half, igniting the Bear offense.

Players in practice this week. (Henry Coppola, Bowdoin Orient)

In one of the most successful plays of the half, junior Camilla Yamada scored on a breakaway following her famous "8-man pick-up," from which she has scored several times.

Senior Jess Bergen scored the third try. By the end of the half, the score was 15-10 in favor of Bowdoin.

Rhode Island "out-rucked," or dominated in physical pushing, the Bears in the second half, but the Bowdoin ruggers proved more in shape as Rhode Island became tired.

Bowdoin scored two more tries in the second half, and Rhode Island notched another on a breakaway. Senior Julie Thompson earned conversion points, making several kicks.

Bowdoin was successful in several different plays, including some impressive runs by sophomore Liz Swedock (from a "good-clown" penalty play), Yamada's 8-man pick-up specialty, and a new lineout technique where players are lifted by the jumper's thighs, not shorts, for a higher lift.

The Rhode Island A-side provided aggressive opposition last Saturday, boosting Bowdoin's level of play. The more technical game brought by the Bowdoin women prevailed, however, and earned the Bears a 25-15 win.

Following the A-side game, Bowdoin played a B-side game with Rhode Island, but had to lend quite a few players to the URI B-side due to a lack of numbers. With players being "traded," all of the Bowdoin B-side members got some extra playing time.

With just two games left in the season, Bowdoin is looking to make the New England Divisional playoffs in November.

Currently second to the undefeated Bears in the rankings are the Jumbos from Tufts (4-0-1). Bowdoin does not play Tufts in the regular season, but has a good chance of facing the team in playoff matches.

This Saturday, the ruggers play their final away game at Northeastern. The following weekend, Bowdoin plays Wellesley, its biggest women's rugby rival, at home. Be sure to come and support the Women's Rugby Team next week Saturday, October 27 for the final and most exciting game of the season!