Bowdoin Women’s Rugby Opens Spring Campaign With Mid-Atlantic Trip

from Bowdoin Athletics:

BRUNSWICK, Maine –  The Bowdoin College women’s rugby team embarked on a five-day spring break trip to the Mid-Atlantic that included sightseeing, training and a pair of victories over the University of Mary Washington and American University.

After a long day of travel on Wednesday, March 24, the Polar Bears arrived for a light practice and game on Thursday at Mary Washington. The Polar Bears barely missed a beat, racking up a 22-0 halftime score on three tries from winger Kerry Townsend and one try and conversion on a breakaway run by flyhalf Katie Mathews. Substitutions at halftime gave newcomers valuable minutes. UMW made substitutions of their own and increased the defensive pressure on the Polar Bears, scoring four tries with one conversion over the 2nd 40 minutes of action.  Bowdoin retaliated nearly each time, and got three more tries; two from speedy winger Elsbeth ‘PJ’ Paige-Jeffers and a fourth tally by Townsend.  Mathews converted two more, for a final score of 41-22.

Bowdoin’s second match featured American University, coached by Bowdoin alum, Amy Shopkorn ’00, who played all four years and captained the ’99-00 squad. A battle of contrasting styles saw Bowdoin defending often, and well, with fine tackling from Dijoia Darden, Allie Dupont, Nylea Bivins, Loryn Fridie, Larson, Paige-Jeffers and Mathews.  Bowdoin used crisp passing and speed to exploit space out wide and score four long-range tries, evenly split between the two wings, Townsend’13 and Paige-Jeffers’10.  Mathews notched two conversions for 4 additional points, including the game winner in the final minutes.  AU kept the pressure on for the final five minutes, knocking on the doorstep of the goalline, but Bowdoin’s defense held on for a 24-22 win.

Following the match, the teams watched a women’s match between the Maryland Stingers and Doylestown Women’s RFC, giving the college players a chance to see a higher level of the game. The trip also allowed for an alumni dinner and sightseeing, including visits to the Smithsonian Museums and Galleries, Holocaust Museum, the Newseum, and the memorials and monuments on the mall during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

Bowdoin will return to action with series of spring non-league matches beginning Saturday, April 3. Check the website schedule, as the schedule of games and times have changed.