Volume CXXXII, Number 2 September 20, 2002 f

Women's rugby rolls into '02
GRACE CHO
STAFF WRITER

Women's rugby has high hopes this year. (Evan Kohn, Bowdoin Orient)

A disappointing game versus Northeastern last fall haunts the Women's Rugby team. As senior players Alexis Goldstein and Courtney Tolmie recall, "it was one fluke of a loss."

But the memories of the past give the Bowdoin Women's Rugby team a new sense of motivation and inspiration. As a new season approaches, the players appear to be in high spirits out on the fields.

With last year's record of 5 wins and 1 loss, the Polar Bears appear to be heading for another fabulous season. "We have been improving consistently over the past three years," reflects senior co-captain Caroline Westra. "We are in for a good season."

Aiming to make the regional playoffs this fall, Bowdoin will need to overcome the loss of several key members.

However, senior co-captain Ellie Doig doesn't seem to see the loss as a problem for the team. "We have about 15 rookies out this year and that will give us a strength in numbers," Doig says.

Junior Lauren Flinn also sees a vast amount of potential among the returning sophomores and new freshmen players. "Our sophomores have shown great potential and I am sure they are going to play at a higher level this year," says Flinn. "And the rookies have been nothing but enthusiastic and will be a huge aspect of the team."

Both Doig and Westra are excited about the overwhelming number of new players. Looking back upon their rugby careers at Bowdoin, Doig sums up their feelings, "Part of what made our Bowdoin experience awesome was playing rugby. Looking up to the experienced players and learning so much, I hope the freshmen will experience the same feelings we did."

Captains Ellie Doig and Caroline Westra along with the other upperclassmen on the team will have a chance to pass on their experiences to the underclassmen on the field this Saturday at Colby for the season opener. The first home game of the year is October 5th.