This upcoming weekend, the Bowdoin College men’s and women’s soccer teams, the field hockey squad, women’s rugby and women’s volleyball will be in NCAA Tournament action.
But, the college sports season never really slows down or even waits for those sports to come to an end, with the winter sports season set to get started this weekend.
The Polar Bears will be in action as the women’s basketball team heads to the Maine Maritime Academy Tip-Off Tournament, facing Roger Williams University on Saturday at 5 p.m. The men’s basketball team heads to the Westfield State Tip-Off Classic in Massachusetts to take on Elms on Saturday (7:30 p.m.).
Women’s ice hockey, coached by Marissa O’Neil, has another week to prepare with a home-and-home against rival Colby, the opener at Alfond Arena in Waterville on Nov. 21 with the second game at Watson Arena at 3 p.m. on Nov. 22.
Basketball
Bowdoin men’s coach Terry Gilbride led the Polar Bears to a 19-6 mark last season. The longtime hoops leader was recognized as the NESCAC Coach of the Year.
The Polar Bears began the season hot, winning their first 12 games. The rest of the way was up and down, with Bowdoin falling in a triple-overtime thriller to Trinity, 71-67, in the NESCAC quarterfinals.
“It was a great season,” said Gilbride of last year. “It was a great bunch of guys who played hard every single night. Even the games we lost, we were in them.”
The hot start earned Bowdoin a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament, with the Polar Bears dropping a close 72-66 decision to Richard Stockton.
Bowdoin returns a solid core from last year, including NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year John Swords, a 7-footer who led the team in scoring (14.2 points per game) and rebounding (9.7) last season. Swords also earned a place on the All-NESCAC First Team, was a Second Team All-Region, Second Team All-Northeast and the Maine State Player of the Year.
“John is very important to our success on both ends of the court,” said Gilbride. “Defensively, his size and length intimidates opponents. He rebounds and controls the boards. Last season he developed on the offensive end as well.”
Also returning is the 2014 Maine State Rookie of the Year in sophomore Neil Fuller.
A key loss is Andrew Madlinger, who was named to the NESCAC Second Team last year, but senior guard/forward Keegan Pieri and senior point guard Bryan Hurley return to give the Polar Bears a solid one-two punch up top. Juniors Jake Donnelly, Lucas Hausman, Stephen Girolamo and Matt Palecki, are joined by sophomores Fuller and Jack Hewitt.
Gilbride also brought in freshmen Blake Gordon, a former Brunswick High School standout, along with Sam Jablonski, Charles DiPasquale and Liam Farley.
“We have enough returning talent to compete with the strong teams,” said Gilbride. “I see us being a good defending team. Last season we could spread the floor and find success outside, with John controlling the paint. I think this year we will need to establish our half-court game and establish different outside shooters. Hurley is a fierce competitor, great at getting the guys the ball, and will be a key to our success in the back court.”
Bowdoin’s home opener is slated for Dec. 6 against rival Colby in a non-conference matchup. The Polar Bears visit Bates College on Dec. 4, while Bowdoin opens conference play Jan. 9 and 10 at Connecticut College and Wesleyan, respectively. Bowdoin faces Williams (Jan. 16), Hamilton (Jan. 17), Middlebury (Feb. 8), Bates (Feb. 13) and Tufts (Feb. 14) in home NESCAC action.
Adrienne Shibles’ women’s squad also got off to a superb start last season, opening 11-0 and compiling a solid mark of 21-6, including 7-3 in the NESCAC.
Bowdoin picked up a NESCAC Tournament win, rolling to a 71-46 victory over Williams in the quarterfinals before going cold in a 45-42 semifinal loss to Amherst.
Still, the Polar Bears advanced to the NCAA tourney. But, at Morrell Gymnasium Bowdoin suffered only its second NCAA home loss in a tough 64-62 setback to Castleton State, ending the playing careers of Kirsten Prue, Allie Piscina, Selena Lorrey and Anna Prohl.
“We lost some amazing leaders and defensive standouts,” said Shibles. “Kirsten Prue was our top assist leader.”
However, Shibles brings back a solid core this year, including leading scorers Sara Binkhorst and Shannon Brady.
The senior Binkhorst, a First Team All-NESCAC, averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while Brady, a junior, had a team-high 14-1 points per game and led in rebounds with 7.1. Brady was a Second Team All-NESCAC selection and a WBCA All-American Honorable Mention.
Seniors Siena Mitman and Megan Phelps (9.6 points, 6.4 boards), and sophomores Sydney Hancock, Rachel Norton, Marle Curle, Ally Silfen and Emily Campbell also return.
“I feel that we have a team that is deep and intense, with the key being defensive rebounding,” said Shibles. “We have a lot of experienced returners, along with some first years that I see contributing.”
Joining the fold this year are freshmen Kate Kerrigan, Lauren Petit, Hannah Cooke and Brunswick native Lydia Caputi.
Going into Friday’s tournament, the players have only practiced for two weeks. But, Shibles is excited to see what her team can do against Roger Williams in the opener.
“Roger Williams was in our bracket last year in the NCAA Tournament, and that should be a good test right away,” said the coach. “I want to see consistency on defense, with the players given more freedom on offense.”
The Bowdoin women open its home slate on Nov. 22 against rival Bates. Salve Regina closes out November with a visit to Morrell Gymnasium on Nov. 29, with the Polar Bears hosting the University of Southern Maine (Dec. 3), Clark and MIT in the Bowdoin Classic (Dec. 30-31), Rhode Island College (Jan. 4), Connecticut College (Jan. 9), Wesleyan (Jan. 10), Colby (Jan. 24), Trinity (Jan. 30) and Amherst (Jan. 31).
“The NESCAC will be as tough as always, with teams not losing a lot from last year,” said Shibles. “We have high expectations, but we are focused on staying in the present and taking things one game at a time.”
Hockey
Men’s hockey coach Terry Meagher begins year No. 32 of his successful tenure with the Polar Bears against a familiar foe in Middlebury on Saturday, a team Bowdoin defeated in the NESCAC quarterfinals last season, 6- 3.
The win was the start of a superb tournament run for Bowdoin, which downed Trinity, 5-4 in the semifinals before slipping past Amherst, 4-3 in double overtime to capture the NESCAC title and automatic berth into the NCAA D-III Tournament.
Bowdoin faced a familiar opponent in the opening round of the tournament, traveling once again to Oswego State in upstate New York. For the third time in recent history (also in 2009 and 2010), the Polar Bears fell to Oswego, this time in a close 4-3 contest. The Polar Bears finished 17-9-2..
A key returnee among the team’s 10 seniors is goaltender Max Fenkell, who has shared the load with graduated Steve Messina the past two seasons. Fenkell is joined in the cage by classmate Eric Yoon, sophomore Mark Schiller and freshman Peter Cronin.
“To have an experienced goaltender who has played in several big games is a plus,” said Meagher of Fenkell.
A key loss is Second Team All-NESCAC and Third Team All-American Colin Downey.
“The forwards are a work in progress,” said Meagher. “Right now, we are deciding on what our structure will be. We just don’t know yet. We have three experienced people back, players who know the league. As always, having a 20-goal scorer is important, but we are looking for balance, with several players needing to step up and put the puck in the net.
“Defensively, this is a group that made the biggest leap last year, and I hope they come back with more confidence.”
Returning seniors are Alec Root, Danny Palumbo, Connor Quinn (Second Team All-NESCAC last season), Ryan Collier, Tim Coffey, John McGinnis, Donald Chute and Mike Schlagel, while juniors Johnny Malusa, Matt Rubinoff, Blake Cormier and Chris Fenwick return to the fold. Sophomores who contributed as freshmen include Mitch Barrington, Kendall Culbertson and Brendon Conroy.
Meagher has also brought in 11 freshmen.
“They are doing everything that they can control,” said Meagher of his Polar Bears. “They are in excellent condition, the work ethic and leadership is strong. This group has promise.”
Bowdoin’s schedule includes its usual home-andhome with rival Colby, with the first game on Nov. 21 at Watson Arena followed the next night at Alfond Arena in Waterville. Once again, the Polar Bears face all NESCAC opponents home and away, with Bowdoin slated to host non-conference opponents Wentworth (Nov. 29), the University of New England (Jan. 20) and the University of Southern Maine (Jan. 27).
As far as being the defending NESCAC champs, Meagher feels his team embraced the road last year, playing the underdog role well.
“I felt the players celebrated being on the road, being the underdogs, and it was a group that didn’t panic when things didn’t go well,” said Meagher. “We will play 18 NESCAC games, each of which will be challenging.”
Marissa O’Neil’s Polar Bear women found their flow at the tail end of the season last year. After a close 2-1 win over Wesleyan in the NESCAC quarterfinals, the Polar Bears knocked off Colby (4-2) in the semifinals before giving Williams a test in a 4-1 loss in the NESCAC title game.
Bowdoin compiled a 13-11- 3 mark in O’Neil’s fourth season and will look to return to the NCAA tourney after a 2012/13 appearance.
Depending on the weekend success of the field hockey team, O’Neil may be missing standouts Rachel Kennedy, Colleen Finnerty and Kimmy Ganong, something that always seems to hurt the Polar Bears in the early stages of the season.
After the home-and-home with Colby, Bowdoin entertains UMass-Boston (Nov. 25), Holy Cross (Nov. 29), Nichols (Dec. 3), Saint Anselm (Dec. 6) and nationally ranked Norwich (Dec. 7) as the Polar Bears play six of their first seven games at home before heading to Minnesota to face St. Thomas and Hamline Jan. 2-3.
Second Team All-NESCAC and senior Chelsea MacNeil returns this year, along with classmates Maddie Baird, Finnerty and Schuyler Nardelli.
Juniors Kennedy, Ariana Bourque and goaltender Beth Findley are joined by a deep sophomore class featuring Aliya Feroe, Jamie Ptacek, Jessica Bowen, Marne Gallant, Maddy Hall, Ganong and goaltender Lan Crofton.
A key missing link this year is the loss of graduated Madeline Lane of Topsham (Second Team All-NESCAC), who anchored the Bowdoin defense. Emily Tang, Olivia Rotenberg, Mallory Andrews and Maura Allen also graduated.
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