MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – After opening a 8-1 lead midway through the second quarter, the No. 8 ranked Wesleyan women's lacrosse team eased past No. 16 Bowdoin in a 14-5 victory from Smith Field on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals (6-1, 2-1 NESCAC) are 6-1 for the fourth straight season and earn a win over the Polar Bears (3-4, 1-3 NESCAC) for the third straight meeting.
 
Wesleyan's defense was incredible throughout, limiting Bowdoin to just 17 shots against 26 turnovers for the visitors on the day. Despite seeing the Polar Bears edge the Cardinals 13-10 in draw controls, the Cardinal defense totaled 19 caused turnovers (matched season-high) including a career-high six from Kiara Tangney '25 that proved vital in the outcome. Abby Wolk '22 also made a season-high eight saves with just five goals allowed while playing the full 60 minutes in net.
 
On the offensive end, Kate Balicki '23 led the way with a game-high five points (four goals, one assist) while Gil Horst '23 tied her career-high with four points (two goals, two assists). With her goal in the second quarter, Laura Baine '24 became the 19^th Cardinal in team history to reach 100 career points as she finished with two goals and one assist. Baine is the third-fastest in team history to reach 100 points, slotting in behind the two top point scorers in program history (Becca Vogel '05 and Abby Manning '20).
 
Playing in a driving rainstorm with temperatures reaching no higher than 40 degrees, both teams had difficulties in the early going as the two sides combined for just four goals in the first quarter. Balicki scored twice as the Cardinals scored the first three goals of the game before Fiona Bundy found the back of the net for the Polar Bears. Wesleyan forced nine first quarter turnovers while Wolk made three saves in net.
 
A 5-0 second quarter run created some separation as the 3-1 Cardinal lead extended out to 8-1 with less than six minutes left until halftime. Baine scored 1:31 into the frame to reach the 100-point milestone before goals from four different Cardinals had the scoreboard reading 8-1. Bowdoin managed two goals in a 1:18 minute span to make it 8-3 at the halftime break.
 
It was more of the same in the third as Wesleyan outscored Bowdoin 3-0 and outshot the Polar Bears 8-2. Kendall Mittleman '23 found the back of the net to start the scoring before Brooke Nelson '24 netted an unassisted tally and Balicki scored her fourth of the day off a Baine feed that made it 11-3 Cardinals.
 
Wesleyan took their biggest lead of the game with a Gil Horst goal 58 seconds into the fourth quarter as the Cardinals ended up finishing off a 14-5 victory.
 
The five goals allowed is tied for the fewest goals the Cardinals have allowed Bowdoin to score in 46 all-time meetings. The last time Wesleyan held Bowdoin to five goals came all the way back in 1982 in what was a 16-5 win in Middletown.
 
Nelson finished with her first career multi-goal game as a Cardinal, as the junior scored twice in the win.
 
Tangney was incredible in midfield and on defense throughout, registering career-highs in both caused turnovers (six) and ground balls (four). Maeve Olson '25 forced three turnovers which is a season-high for the sophomore defender. Reilly Short '23 grabbed a career-high six ground balls while Erin Trotta '23 added three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Bridget Horst '26 posted a career and game-high eight draw controls.
 
Bowdoin was led by Bundy who tallied three points (two goals, one assist) to go along with four draw controls, three ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Sophia Schaefer added two goals, two draw controls, two ground balls, and one caused turnover for the Polar Bears.
 
The Cardinals have a week to prepare for their next matchup, slated for Saturday, April 1 as Wesleyan travels to face Hamilton at Noon.