Women's Rugby Garners Plate Division Championship

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's rugby team captured the NERFU "Plate Division" title on Saturday with a 20-12 victory over Wellesley. The Polar Bears, who received strong performances from Dani McAvoy, Erica Camarena and Loryn Fridie as well as backs Becky Stevens, Katie Mathews and Kerry Townsend, finish their year with an overall mark of 7-2.

Bowdoin built a 10 - 0 lead in the first 20 minutes then watched the momentum swing as Wellesley came back strong, disrupting Bowdoin's possession and gaining territory. On a deep kick by #9 Stevens from the base of a ruck, Kerry Townsend outsprinted the Wellesley backline 50 meters to touch the ball down in the endzone, giving Bowdoin a 5-0 lead. Fifteen minutes later and with pressure from the forward pack, Bowdoin capitalized on a 5-meter scrum, calling a #8 pick up by McAvoy, who drew the defense and passed off to flanker Uche Esonu'13 who muscled her way over the try line. Wellesley responded with a try of their own, breaking through the Bowdoin defense. With the score 10 - 5, and playing aggressively, the Blue nearly scored another with a great line break by their fullback but a 50 meter chase-down and tackle from behind by #10 Mathews prevented the score.

Extolled by co-captains Camarena and Larson, the Polar Bears scored two more tries, sandwiched around a converted try by Wellesley. Erica Camarena took a short pass off the ruck and with good footwork and aggressive running, touched the ball down for Bowdoin's third score of the match. Finally, Stevens fed the ball out wide to the backline and and the Kerry Townsend sprinted into the corner, making the final score 20 - 12.

Bowdoin's second team ended their season with a very well played match. Liz Fox, Amanda Ray, Helen White, Nicole Erkis, Brittany Johnson and Marketia James had solid performances. Dorothy Pei made some strong runs upfield and Ally Cavanaugh and Lynn Freedman played well on the wings. Kyrie Eiras-Saunders scored a try off a hard run from 10 meters out. Helen White scored Bowdoin's 2nd try, taking a pass from Erkis off a ruck and sidestepping several Wellesley tacklers to touch the ball down between the posts. Both of Bowdoin's tries were unconverted, and the final score was Wellesley 15-Bowdoin 10.