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Volume CXXXIII, Number 7 |
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Women's rugby faces first defeat
LINDSAY MORRIS
STAFF WRITER
In a close game last Saturday, the Bowdoin Women's Rugby A-side lost
to the Northeastern A-side by a score of 7-5. The loss came as a surprise
and disappointment to Bowdoin, who had remained undefeated until then.
Northeastern started the game off by scoring a try only several minutes
into the half, on a breakaway by the inside center. A successful conversion
kick brought the score to 7-0.
Both teams fought equally hard during the rest of the first half. Early
in the second half, junior Camilla Yamada scored a try on a breakaway
and brought Bowdoin within 2 points of Northeastern.
Bowdoin dominated the game in the second half, keeping the ball on the
opposite side for 33 minutes of the 40-minute frame. The ruggers came
close to scoring a second try in a series of attacks at the try line,
but the score remained 7-5 at the end of the second half, and Northeastern
hung on for the victory.
Friday's game was frustrating for the Bowdoin ruggers in an overall sense.
Several calls made by the official were questionable, and the conditions
of the field were poor at best. Patches of grass were missing, dust wafted
into players' eyes when dirt was kicked up, and a portion of the field
was actually located on the clay dirt of a baseball infield.
Play from Northeastern combined with these conditions spelled trouble
for the Bears. The opponents' tight offense, speed, and aggression caught
Bowdoin off guard, and disrupted the Bear offense as well. The Bowdoin
back line had trouble getting many of their plays out to the wings, where
their strength in speed lies.
Despite a tough loss, the team remained optimistic and together. "No
one was angry at the game," junior Nachel Mathoda said. "We
were all supportive of each other, and there has been no blaming."
The Bowdoin B-side squad showed impressive coherence and consistency
in the match against the Northeastern B-side. With the leadership of fly
half Sarah Jenness '02, Bowdoin scored several tries with successful plays
in the back-line. First year Melissa Hayden scored three times, and forward
Aubrey Brick '05 scored as well. Sophomore Whitney Alexander made several
successful conversion kicks.
Coaches Mary Beth and Bob Matthews approach the loss as a learning experience
and have challenged players to step up to the challenge of this Saturday's
game.
With one regular-season match left, the Bears have been preparing this
week for archrival Wellesley. Junior Ellie Doig noted that the team is
looking to increase its aggression and to prepare its "mental game"
in order to triumph this weekend.
Depending on the Bears' performance against Wellesley and Tufts' final
standing in the league, the women could earn a spot in the New England
playoffs.
Come support the women's rugby team in their last match of the year, tomorrow at 1:30 behind Farley Field House.