It took 63 minutes for Bowdoin to find the back of the net. It took less than five minutes to score three second half goals en route to a 3-2 victory over Maine Maritime Academy in women’s college soccer at Pickard Field.
Bowdoin came out the aggressor in the opening minutes. Brigit Bergin led the Polar Bear attack, putting pressure on the Mariners. Bergin managed to fire off a few shots including one that just went over the crossbar.
Thirteen minutes into the game, Mariner forward Makayla Lewis beat Bowdoin goalie Rachel Stout to a loose ball inside the 18-yard line and booted it past her for a 1-0 MMA lead.
Bowdoin (4-2-1) continued its pressure on the visiting squad. The Polar Bears mixed in long boots and short, quick passes to the front, to keep Mariner netminder Emily Conway on her toes.
With under 13 minutes remaining, Bowdoin was awarded one of its eight first-half corners, but was unable to convert.
Another opportunity for Bowdoin that came up empty-handed was when Bergin centered a pass in front, but Talia Missan was unable to get a foot on the ball, allowing Miranda McIntire of Richmond to clear the ball. Despite out-shooting MMA 11-1, Bowdoin went into halftime trailing 1-0.
“We felt like we were driving up on them. We were making it easy on them because we didn’t try to challenge them one-on-one to get closer shots,” said Weaver. “We were taking a little too long to take our shots as we were playing casually.”
Less than two minutes into the half, Bergin took a penalty kick when she was brought down inside the box. The senior midfielder did not get a solid foot on the ball and Conway made the save.
Bowdoin appeared to have tied the score a few minutes later when Claudette Proctor headed the ball into the net, but an offsides call negated the goal.
Freshman Lynn Farquhar finally got the Polar Bears on the board when she grabbed a Julia Patterson pass and knocked it past Conway 18 minutes into the half. It was the freshman’s second goal of the week.
It took only 1:29 for the Polar Bears to score again when Patterson assisted Proctor for the go-ahead goal. Once Patterson passed the ball in front, Proctor legged it past Conway.
“I don’t think we were focusing on what needed to be done. We needed to look at making good passes and not run around like our heads cut off,” said Patterson. “We got the ‘W’ and that’s all that matters.”
Less than three minutes following Proctor’s goal, Ana Lozada-Smith scored an unassisted tally, giving Bowdoin a 3-1 lead with a little over 22 minutes to play.
“That group went in and did a really good job for us. We weren’t executing again right after halftime, but as soon as that group went in we started to take a hold of them,” said Weaver.
Over the next 20 minutes, the home team continued to shoot at Conway, putting nearly a dozen shots on net in the second half. The freshman goalie finished with 12 saves on the day.
The Mariners only managed a few more shots down the stretch, but was awarded a penalty kick with 2:07 remaining. Lewis legged it past Stout to cut the Polar Bear lead to 3-2.
“Her legs are just getting back under her. She’s been on a ship the last 180 days so she’s getting back into game shape,” said MMA coach Seth Brown. “Bowdoin’s a really good team, but I am glad our girls didn’t quit.”
MMA ( 2- 8) did not get any closer, unable to get another shot off on Stout (three saves) to close out the game.
“Rachel’s a senior and a veteran goalie for us. She’s been our goalie two full years now and it’s great to have that confidence back there,” added Weaver.
The Polar Bears dominated the stat sheet, out-shooting MMA 26-5 and dominating the corners 18-1.
Bowdoin travels to the University of Maine at Farmington on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Bowdoin College 3, MMA 2
At Pickard Field at Bowdoin College
| MMA | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
| Bowdoin | — 0 | 3 | — | 3 |
Goals — (M) Makayla Lewis 2, (B) Lynn Farquhar, Claudette Proctor, Ana Lozada-Smith. Assists — (B) Julia Patterson 2. Shots — Bowdoin 26, MMA 5. Saves — (M) Emily Conway 12, (B) Rachel Stout 3. Corner kicks — Brunswick 18, MMA 1. Records — Bowdoin 4-2-1, MMA 2- 8. Up next for the Polar Bears — Away at UMaine-Farmington on Sunday at 2 p.m
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