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Volume CXXXIII, Number 4 |
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Panthers and Jeffs end Bears' undefeated record in close games
NORA DOWLEY
STAFF WRITER
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| The varsity women's soccer team practices a few headers before an afternoon practice. The women are 5-2 this fall season. (Hans Law, Bowdoin Orient) |
The Bears knew playing Amherst would be a challenge. Amherst is a very young squad with only three seniors, but the energy and vitality its players have make the team hard to beat. Bowdoin knew it would have to play strong and confident in order to compete with the Lord Jeffs.
As prepared as the Polar Bears were for the game, they were not ready for Amherst hot shot Ashley Harmling. Harmling had just come off an amazing performance against Springfield College, earning her first hat trick of the season, and she wasted no time getting started against Bowdoin. Thirteen minutes into the half, she ran onto a great ball from junior midfielder Adrienne Showler and knocked it home for the first goal of the game. Harmling's speed and aggressiveness is outstanding, making any defender's job extremely difficult.
The Bears hung tough and played with Amherst for the majority of the game. The score remained 1-0 until 84 minute into the game, when Cedar Goldman '05 knocked a gorgeous header off a corner kick into the back of the net. However, Amherst promptly responded with a quick goal three minutes later. Harmling then added an exclamation point scoring inside the final minute of the game and sending the Polar Bears packing.
The usual energy and intensity of the Bears was not present for the entire 90 minutes, which hurt the team considerably. Disappointed as they were, the Bears had to regroup and prepare for another big game at Middlebury the following day.
The weather conditions were rainy and the field was muddy, but Bowdoin was ready to tackle the Panthers. They played long and hard for 90 minutes. Both sides had great opportunities to score, but the game headed into overtime as neither Bowdoin nor Middlebury was able to find the back of the net.
Tired from the previous game against Amherst, the Polar Bears began to show signs of fatigue early in the first overtime. Sensing Bowdoin's slowness, Middlebury began to put on the pressure. Ten minutes into the extra period, Mayo Fuji of Middlebury gained control of the ball about 15 yards away from the net and sent the ball sailing across the six-yard box. Teammate (and current NESCAC player of the week) Brittany Cronin was in perfect position to head the ball in for the game winner.
The Bowdoin soccer players were upset by their performance last weekend
but they are ready to get back in the "win" column this weekend
at Tufts.
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