Volume CXXXIII, Number 17 February 22, 2002 f

Women's hockey continues to dominate
REBEKAH METZLER
STAFF WRITER

Let it be made clear that the Bowdoin Women's Hockey Team owns the best hockey record in the school right now, standing at a phenomenal 19-3-1. As fabulous as this is, it is a painful fact that there is more of a cult following surrounding "the Hawk" (now identified to be an immature Red-Tail) that attacked a seagull outside Smith Union than your own Women's Hockey team. I know having a nationally ranked team is nothing new when you go to Bowdoin College and a pile of white feathers is, but if you crave carnage this is the team for you. In 6 periods of hockey against rival Colby College, the scoring was a lopsided 12-2. Trust me, a pile of destroyed mule hair is more satisfying to look at than some frozen feathers.

Women continue their winning streak and improve their record to 19-3-1. (Colin LeCroy, Bowdoin Orient)

This past weekend, the team took a road trip, meeting up against both nationally top-ranked Middlebury and NESCAC rival Williams (whom the Bears had never beaten on the road). The women skated to a tough overtime loss to Middlebury, and at last proved victorious over Williams. Sadie Wieschhoff '04 was encouraged by the win, "We finally broke the curse and won at Williams." Of the 2-1 loss against Middlebury, Kirsten Larsen '04 pointed out, "We battled until overtime." The team may be slightly disappointed, but again Wieschhoff notes the fact that, "Back-to-back games on the road are rough."

Bowdoin overcame a 1-0 deficit in the second period against Middlebury when Jess Burke '04 scored at 17:32. After an evenly matched third period, Middlebury won the game in overtime on a breakaway goal. The next day in Williamstown, Massachusetts. the Bears rebounded from the loss by defeating Williams 4-3. Scoring for Bowdoin were Burke, Gillian McDonald '04, Shelly Chessie '03, and Marissa O'Neil '05. Emily McKissock '03 continued with the same stellar play she has demonstrated all season making 28 saves between the pipes.

Rounding out the Bears season was a final showdown with Colby in Waterville. After a long weekend, this Tuesday (the 20th) the Bears skated in with perhaps a little less fire against the Mules than they displayed last Tuesday, February 12, during their first match-up with Colby this season. Besides the jaw-dropping six goals scored between Chessie and O'Neil, Jen Crane, Ba Lanoue, Larsen, and Katie Duglin all hit the back of the net.
Always the entertainers, this team provided not only a large quantity of goals, but also high quality ones. Larsen began the third period scoring a beautiful one-timer that blew by the Colby net-minder. Of Larsen's goal, Cathie Quinlan said with a little shimmah-shimmah dance, "That girl's THE SH*T. I only wish I could shoot the puck like her."

Not to be outdone by a fellow defenseman, later in the third, first-year Katie Duglin took the puck starting from behind her own goal line. She traversed end-to-end, weaving in and out of the entire Colby team to finish with a spectacular diving one-handed, backhand goal in true Bobby Orr fashion.
In the most recent game against Colby, the Bears faltered a bit and the game resulted in a 2-2 tie. Chessie said of the game, "We needed to play well and we didn't." While Bowdoin out shot the Mules 37-20, they just couldn't seem to find the back of the net. Kirsti Anderson and Jess Burke scored the only goals for the Bears and the reliable McKissock ended with 18 saves in the net.

This Saturday afternoon the Polar Bears will take on Amherst in Dayton arena for the first round of the NESCAC tournament. Jess Burke claims, "We are psyched about this weekend." and Chessie adds, "Post-season play is intense…we have a lot to prove. We need to be focused for this weekend and play how we are capable. We made it this far for a reason and we need to realize that and be proud of it." Indeed.

These Bears have something to prove and you should be there to witness it. Watch the fur fly and ignore the feathers. Believe it, and let this team be your hero…they can take your breath away.