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Rachel Greenwood '09 helped lead the Bobcats back to the NESCAC Championship and earned all-conference honors.

The 2008 Bates field hockey team fought through the tough NESCAC schedule and earned a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2005. With a strong core of returning players and a talented first-year class the Bobcats showed they were a tough matchup for any NESCAC team. The Bobcats made a convincing push at season’s end with a win over Connecticut College and an overtime victory against rival Colby to put themselves into the conference tournament.

The Bobcats faced in-state rival and defending national champion Bowdoin College in the first round of the tournament. With a fiery comeback Bates kept it close down 3-2 for much of the second half. However, Bates was unable to capitalize on their offensive opportunities down the stretch as Bowdoin tacked on two insurance goals to seal the victory.

The Bobcats remain the only team to score two or more goals against Bowdoin this post-season. Also, Bates was one of three teams (Bowdoin and Middlebury) all season to score multiple goals on Tufts who went undefeated in conference play. Both Bowdoin and Tufts have advanced to the final four in the NCAA field hockey tournament and are still fighting for a chance at a national championship.

The overall team effort this season resulted in some impressive post-season accolades for a couple of Bobcats. Sophomore goalkeeper Katie McEnroe (Hockessin, Del.) was named the lone goalie on the NESCAC All-Conference First Team while senior co-captain Rachel Greenwood (Williamstown, Mass.) was named to the Second Team. Both McEnroe and Greenwood were also named to the Division III New England West All-Region Second Team by the NFHCA.

The Bobcats will look to their four juniors, Sammy Rothkopf (Chicago, Ill.), Heidi Judkins (Farmington, Maine), Morgan Maciewicz (Marblehead, Mass.) and Helena Turner (Manchester, Mass.), for continued leadership next season. Sophomores Annie Wilson (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), Zoe Donaldson (Bronxville, N.Y.) and leading goal and point scorer, Sema Kazarian (Providence, R.I.), will be looked upon to continue their success in 2009.

The success the Bobcats had this season has undoubtedly given the returning players increased motivation to achieve a higher level of success next season. In addition, the Bobcats will be traveling to Argentina this summer to play against some top international field hockey talent in preparation for the 2009 season.