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Volume CXXXII, Number 12 |
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Fire on ice: Women's hockey stays hot
REBEKAH METZLER
STAFF WRITER
Since returning from their brief winter break, the Bowdoin Women's Ice Hockey Team has played in six games, the last of which was a match-up against the University of Southern Maine.
The Bears have remained undefeated thus far, boasting a record of 10-0-2. The first game back from break was an exhibition against John Abbott College, resulting in a 6-2 win for Bowdoin. Gill McDonald '04, Marissa O'Neil '05, Ba Lanoue '03 and captain Beth Muir '03 all scored in the win, with Muir posting two goals. Goalies Cat MacEachern '06 (six saves), Nathalie Morgan '06 (five saves, one goal allowed) and captain Emily McKissock '03 (five saves, one goal allowed) split time in net for Bowdoin.
In their first game back from studying abroad, juniors Kirsten Larsen, Jess Burke, and Jen Pelkey wasted no time making an impact. In her first action of the season, Larsen scored against John Abbott assisted by Pelkey and Burke.
Two-time NESCAC Player of the Week (December 9 and January 6) Marissa O'Neil noted, "With the return of the abroad girls, laughs are sure to come." Without a doubt, the wins will also continue to pile up for the undefeated squad.
Beginning a stretch of four away games, the Polar Bears blanked Trinity 4-0 with goals by Britney Carr '04, Pelkey, Muir, and Kelsey Wilcox '06. Francesca Klucevsek-Whalen '03 (four saves) and McEachern (six saves) split time in net for Bowdoin and posted a combined shutout.
Against Wesleyan, the Polar Bears, led by sophomore All-American Kirsti Anderson's hat trick, rolled over the Cardinals and finished with an impressive 10-1 victory.
Katherine Duglin '05, Rebecca Selden '06, Pelkey, All-American Shelly Chessie '03, and Burke all knocked one in for the Bears, and Muir added another two. O'Neil and Chessie posted three assists apiece.
In a much anticipated weekend, the number two ranked Polar Bears defeated Williams, and the next day tied NESCAC archrival Middlebury. At Williamstown, the Bears skated past the Ephs with goals by Duglin, O'Neil, and Chessie. McKissock made 21 saves in the victory.
The real moment of truth came the next day in an intense game against Middlebury. Ranked two spots behind Bowdoin in the national rankings, Middlebury put up 40 shots but could only sneak one puck by Bowdoin goalie McKissock. The NESCAC recognized her effort by awarding her Player of the Week status.
Teammate O'Neil said, "I think Emily definitely deserves her honor; she played amazing in the Middlebury game. Big players show up for big games, and she did just that."
Said McKissock, "Our success last season has made our team more visible within the league and national scene. That visibility has personally motivated me, as a Bowdoin athlete, to perform at a higher level."
In a game that was plagued by questionable officiating and something that reeked of a little hometown cooking at worst, the Bears killed two of the three five-on-three opportunities for the Panthers. On the offensive end, Shelly "Prime Time" Chessie scored unassisted in the first period, providing the only offense for Bowdoin.
Despite the two ties, McKissock is pleased with the play of the team thus far. She commented, "The season has gone incredibly well so far. I think that we've only benefited positively from any expectations about our team. We have no losses thus far in the season, and we have just completed a very successful weekend against Middlebury and Williams. The first years are all contributing, and with four goalies we're very strong in net."
O'Neil added, "I feel that we picked up where we left off last year. It was a great jump-start to our season. Despite a few injuries to key players, I feel that there is no game we can't win if we show up to play. Because we are ranked second in the country, teams are really gunning for us and want to hand us our first loss. We need to keep working hard despite the pressure."
When asked about an ensuing rivalry between them for NESCAC Player of the Week honors, O'Neil replied, "I would say there is no competition between the two of us at all, until you brought it up! Now things might get a little heated."
However, McKissock replied, "I think Marissa more than deserves the award. She's a great player, and I know how hard it must be for her to get noticed out there for her talent, because she's just so darn short!"
Be sure and check out the action this weekend as the Bears take the ice at home against the Connecticut College Camels at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday at 3 p.m. in Dayton Arena.
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