Field Hockey Loses at 8th-Ranked Bowdoin

The Polar Bears relieved Middlebury of the pressure of repeating an undefeated season by handing the Panthers a 4-2 loss on Saturday, Sept. 21.  With nine minutes to go, Katie Theiss ’14 evened the score at 2-2, but Bowdoin snuffed out the comeback with two late goals to give Middlebury its first loss.

The Panthers clawed uphill for the bulk of the game, playing over 60 minutes of the 70-minute game while down one goal – a position of urgency and desperation that Middlebury has yet to experience this year and encountered only once all last year, in the NESCAC Championship game at home against Bowdoin, which Middlebury won in a post-overtime stroke-off.

The back-and-forth first half shook out underneath moving clouds that cast the Bowdoin turf in bright sunshine one moment and cold shadow the next.  Similarly, the Panthers shined in certain aspects but were frustrated by others.

Alyssa DiMaio ’15, one of Middlebury’s main motors in the midfield, spoke about the lapses in her team’s play.

“One of the things we normally do really well is connect between the forward and the midfield, but [on Saturday] we struggled to make those connections,” she said. “Communication is one thing we are going to work on going forward.”

Bowdoin got its offensive engine running early, using a redirection near the right post to beat Middlebury goalie Cassie Coash ’15, who kept Middlebury alive with 10 saves that day.  Coash swatted and  admirably kicked away Bowdoin’s attempts in just her second game donning the goalie gear for Middlebury.

Fifteen minutes later, the Panthers scored a goal of their own, with DiMaio and Ellie O’Brien ’14 setting up Catherine Fowler ’15 to steam home a shot from the top of the circle, tying the game at 1-1 before halftime.  The trio has played well on penalty corners this year. When Fowler does not find a lane to score, Theiss often pounces on a ball from shorter range.

Middlebury began the second half with an element of confident comfort, trusting that one of its talented weapons, Alex Kuzma ’17 or Jillian Green ’15, would eventually fire in a go-ahead goal.  However, Bowdoin’s slicing offensive rush into Middlebury’s arc drew a penalty stroke foul. Bowdoin capitalized on the free shot, activating the fight-or-flight desperation in the Middlebury side.

Coach Katherine DeLorenzo shifted up an extra forward to spark some offense, and indeed the Panthers earned a pair of corners they failed to put away. But as Middlebury became more aggressive, the chances began to open up for Bowdoin as well.  Whenever Middlebury dealt an offensive blow, the speedy Bowdoin midfielders would race to counterattack.

With eight minutes and 22 seconds remaining on the clock, Theiss finally lifted Middlebury back to even footing on another penalty corner goal.  The enthusiasm and encouragement from the sidelined players, which DeLorenzo commended for its impact on the game, reached a throaty peak and Middlebury seemed to hold the momentum.

In heartbreaking fashion, Bowdoin scored just 22 seconds later to clamp the vice back on the Panthers and scored again three minutes later to ensure the win.

“I think it is a good thing, a sort of reality check,” Anne Entwisle ’15 said positively.

After overcoming the initial disappointment and frustration of the loss, other players have also changed to a heartier tune.

“As much as we all feel upset about the loss, I am excited to see how it fires us up to go in a positive direction,” defender Hana Kahn ’14 said.

Middlebury’s first opportunity to erupt forward comes on Wednesday, Sept. 25 against Castleton St. before a double-header at home on Saturday, Sept. 28 against NESCAC foes Colby and Sunday, Sept. 29 against Williams.

Last season the Panthers had no trouble dispatching of these opponents, with a combined score over three games of 18-0. Being on home turf against conference opponents can only help the Panthers’ chances of rebounding from this weekend’s loss.