Field Hockey Steals HUGE Win in Brunswick, First Victory Over Bowdoin Since 2004
Ending the three week preseason with a conference matchup at #16 Bowdoin, the Colby Field Hockey team put their mark on the 2024 season with a 5-4 win in double-overtime Saturday. It was Colby's first victory over Bowdoin since the Mules beat the Polar Bears twice in 2004.
The hosts opened up a two-goal lead by the end of the first quarter, but the second frame belonged to Colby. Two Casey Winslow scores bookended a Molly Mitchell tally, and the Mules went into the break up 3-2.
Bowdoin pulled one back early in the third quarter and moved in front with seven minutes left in the fourth. A resilient Colby squad battled the Polar Bears, and the heat, capitalizing for the tying score with less than three minutes to play. Catherine McNulty knocked in a feed from Pernilla Shaw (headline photo, left) to force extended time.
After a scoreless first overtime, Winslow tallied for her first career hattrick with time waning in the second, sending the Mules home with an epic win and straight to the top of the conference standings. The senior earned NESCAC Player of the Week for her efforts.
Opal O'Rourke had 10 saves in the cage in her collegiate debut. The first-year and her teammates defended five consecutive corner attempts by Bowdoin in the minutes leading up to Winslow's final score.
Colby opens the season with a 1-0 mark, and will stay on the road for three matches this coming week (@UNE Tuesday, @Tufts Saturday, @Thomas Sunday).
Women's Soccer Sets the Tone for 2024, Stuns Bowdoin in Brunswick
The Colby Women's Soccer team paved its way to a 2-0 record to open the season, cruising past Saint Joseph's Tuesday 9-0 and capturing a historical 1-0 victory at #14 Bowdoin on Saturday. The win against the Polar Bears was just the second in program history, a series that dates back to 1979.
In Tuesday's opener, the Mules scored early and often, tallying seven goals in the first half and two more in the second. Sophie DiGrande, Catherine Watrous, Ella Caraluzzi, and Elo Luczkow all recorded multiple points, led by DiGrande and Watrous with two goals and an assist each. Colby's defensive unit didn't allow a single shot on goal all night.
In hindsight, Saturday's showdown with Bowdoin was decided early. Awarded a penalty shot in the twelfth minute, Samantha Dewitt (headline photo) connected for the early score, and the Mules didn't look back. Colby led the 14th-ranked Polar Bears in key categories by a lopsided margin, taking the advantage in shots on goal 9-1 and corner kicks 7-1.
Head Coach Seth Benjamin moves to 2-0 to start his Colby career.
The Mules stay on the road for three games in a five-day span (@USM Wednesday, @Tufts Saturday, @Hartford Sunday).
Men’s Soccer Rallies for Late Comeback Win Over Thomas
The Mules headed four miles down the road Tuesday night for their annual opening season match versus Thomas College before starting conference play Friday night in Brunswick against Bowdoin.
On Tuesday, the Terriers opened up the scoring with a goal in the 21st minute of play and looked to hold on to the one goal lead for the remainder of the game. With only six minutes left in the match it looked like Thomas would do just that, but in the 84th minute first-year Zane Matraji found the back of the net off a pass from Charlie Scott to even the game 1-1. Four minutes later, Scott tallied another assist finding Mario Simoes for the game-winning header to secure the late comeback victory and head coach Greg Cumpstone’s first win with the Mules.
Friday night against the Polar Bears, Simoes got the Mules on the board just six minutes in for his second goal of the week, but Bowdoin tied it up midway through the frame to head into halftime knotted at one goal apiece. Colby responded by scoring the first goal of the second half off the foot of Chase Dolinko, but the Polar Bears answered with back to back goals to take a 3-2 victory.
Next up, the 1-1 Colby Men’s Soccer team will head to Gorham Tuesday night for a battle with the University of Southern Maine Huskies before traveling to Tufts Saturday.
Volleyball Downs Three Opponents in Busy Opening Week of Action
Before heading to Cambridge, Mass. to compete in the MIT invitational, the Mules took their season opener against Saint Joseph’s in three straight sets Tuesday night. 20 different Colby athletes saw action as Marjorie Johnson led the offensive charge with eight kills. LJ Grant was right behind with seven. Gabby Grujic had an impressive 20 assists while Reanna Yadao finished with 18 digs.
In the weekend three-game invite at MIT, the Mules dropped game one to the 13th-ranked Engineers 3-1 but bounced back the following day against Endicott (3-1) and Maine Maritime Academy (3-0). In the two wins, Colby totaled 21 aces as a team while Brady Moseley finished the day with 19 kills and Grujic tallied 34 assists. Moseley, who had 17 kills in the setback against MIT, was joined by Reese Loyd on the All-Tournament Team.
The 3-1 Mules will remain on the road for another three-match tournament hosted by NYU this coming weekend.
Doore Crowned Champion at CBBT Meet as Men Take First Place
The Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams headed to Bowdoin Saturday for the first meet of the 2024 season. The usual CBB group was joined by Tufts to make it a four-team event.
Colby senior Gordon Doore (headline photo, center) highlighted the event for Colby taking home the crown on the men's side of competition. Four other Mules finished within the top-10 to help grab the overall first place finish as a team. Chris Gould secured a podium spot alongside Doore with a third place finish followed by Henry Reichle in fifth, Stephen White right behind in sixth and Danny Reyes in 10th.
On the women's side, Colby secured third place as a team led by first-year Ada Grant who finished seventh overall. Claire Beebe was not far behind as she stayed inside the top-10 with a ninth place finish.
The Colby Cross Country team will be back in action on September 21st in Auburn for the Maine State Meet hosted by Bates.
Golf Cruises to Third at Husson Invitational
The Colby Golf team opened the fall season in an eight-team showdown hosted by regional power Husson University. With all scorers shooting in the 70's for the first time in Head Coach Blaise MacDonald's tenure, Colby secured the third step of the podium, a collective four strokes off the lead.
Johnny Kinsley led the way tied for fourth in the 54-person field. His 71 was good for an even par.
- 4th - Kinsley (71)
- 6th - Mitchell Ham (72)
- 12th - Nick Stapleton (74)
- 19th - Jack Dorsey (76)
- 24th - Jake MacDonald (79)
Colby returns to the links next weekend to face UMaine Farmington on Saturday and Thomas on Sunday. Both matches will be hosted at the Waterville Country Club.
Special thank you to the photographers who helped make this production possible: Bonnie Baker Photography, Cole Burkhart '24, Steve Cheney P25, Stephen R. Clouthier, Ashley Conti, Jamie Fiedorek '25, Colin Flood '26, Steve Fuller @flyingpoint, Michael Garrett P23, Andrew Hearns P24, Peter Li '26, Michael Maher, Joshua McKee, Dustin Satloff '15, Ellie Sawyer P25, Bill Stevenson P24, Isadora Wells '26, Ansley White '26