Hamilton College first-years Shayna Polsky '25 and Erin Rayhill '25 scored on Senior Day in the Continentals' 2-1 NESCAC victory over the Bowdoin College Polar Bears at Hamilton's Love Field on Saturday.
 
The triumph is a continuation of what has been a dominant season for the nationally ranked No. 16 Continentals, as the team remains unbeaten at 8-0-2 overall and 6-0-2 in the NESCAC. The team honored Cat Gambino '22, Aidan Leahey '22, Mackenzie Christensen '22 and Isabella Roselli '22 prior to the start of the match. Hamilton will aim to stay in form in its next match at Oswego State on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m.
 
Polsky got the Continentals off the mark in the 16th minute on a well-executed corner kick. The play began with Ashlyn Gaulin '23 sending a looping left-footed cross to the front post that Hyla Mosher '23 won in a duel with Bowdoin goalkeeper Alex Arndt. Mosher flicked the ball to the back post to Polsky who headed it home for the first goal of her collegiate career. Mosher leads the team with 11 points.
 
Rayhill doubled Hamilton's lead in the 39th minute with a brilliant long shot. After receiving a pass on the left wing from Leahey, Rayhill cut in past a Bowdoin defender onto her right foot. After creating enough space for a shot, Rayhill delivered a right-footed blast that curled past Arndt's outstretched arms into the top right-hand corner. The crowd went wild for Rayhill who, like Polsky, scored her first collegiate goal.
 
Though Hamilton would have preferred smooth sailing the rest of the way, the Polar Bears (6-4-1, 1-4-0) clawed their way back into the match in the 63rd minute on a free kick set piece. Tess Huckaby sent a driven ball from the right wing into a crowd of players at the front post. It pinballed around near the six-yard box before Katrina Reidy calmly settled the ball at a low angle and blasted it into the roof of the net.

Bowdoin continued to press the Continentals for the final half hour of the match, but Hamilton ultimately held on to secure its fourth straight win over the Polar Bears. Bowdoin took six shots, including four on goal, in the last 14 minutes.
 
The Continentals' backline was tough and resolute all day. Polsky, Kelly Grossman '24, Christensen, Ashlyn Gaulin and Emma Gaulin '23 all contributed strong performances in the back. Leahey had a particularly strong match, providing an assist while continuing her steady season at center back.
 
As per usual, Caity Smith '23 was a stabilizing force in goal for the Continentals, producing a career-high 10 saves. Smith was distinctly spectacular in the second half, coming up with big save after big save and keeping her team ahead on the scoreboard.