BRUNSWICK

The 2018 Bowdoin College field hockey team is set to open its season on Wednesday at home against the University of New England.

The Polar Bears are ranked 15th in the NFHCA preseason poll after qualifying for the NESCAC Tournament last year and reaching the semifinals after knocking off No. 2 Tufts in quarterfinals.

2017 Recap (10-7) — The Polar Bears found their stride late in the season, winning three of their last four regular season games. Bowdoin’s 10- win season was its 26th consecutive double-digit win campaign, the longest such streak in all of Division III field hockey. The Polar Bears ended the season ranked 17th.

2018 Preview — Bowdoin returns its top three scorers and nine players who started at least seven games for the squad last fall. Senior Elizabeth Bennewitz and junior Kara Finnerty were both All- NESCAC performers in 2017, while Finnerty was also named an NFHCA All-American with a team-best 12 goals. Bennewitz finished with five goals, six assists and four defensive saves, and junior Emma Stevens recorded nine goals. Additionally, goaltender Maddie Ferrucci (1.54 GAA), who started all 17 games last season, returns between the pipes for the Polar Bears.

2018 Schedule — After opening with UNE, the Polar Bears host NESCAC foes Amherst (Sept. 8) and Bates (Sept. 12) at Ryan Field. Bowdoin will play nine home games in all, including NESCAC matches against Trinity (Oct. 6) and Connecticut College (Oct. 20) before closing the regular season against Tufts at home on Oct. 24. to share with our team, and I can’t wait to work with her.”

Tess Trinka

Nordic skiing

Bowdoin College has announced the hiring of Leslie Krichko as the assistant coach for the Nordic skiing program.

A Maine native and twotime Olympian (1980, ’88), Krichko helped the University of Vermont to a national championship while competing in college and qualified for multiple World Championship teams. Additionally, she raced in numerous World Cup events over a 12-year stint on the national team.

After winding down her international racing career, Krichko moved to Connecticut, where she built a career in realty and raised three children.

In addition to her rich ski racing background, Krichko held a variety of coaching/instructing roles in skiing, rowing, hydrofitness and youth exercise programming.

“We’re so fortunate to have a person of Leslie’s stature joining our team,” said head coach Nathan Alsobrook. “She has a deep well of knowledge

Recent Bowdoin graduate Tess Trinka was honored last weekend at the Arthur Ashe Award Weekend prior to the start of the U.S. Open.

One of the finest women’s tennis players in school history, Trinka was recognized for her work off the court when she received the Division III ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award last spring at the NCAA Championships. As the Division III women’s tennis honoree, she was invited to take part in the Ashe Awards Weekend at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills last weekend.

As part of the weekend, Trinka volunteered at a Kid’s Play Day, participated in an exhibition doubles tournament and was recognized in an awards ceremony for all of last year’s recipients.

A multiple-time All-American, Trinka graduated with a degree in biology with a minor in music in May. She was a Sarah & James Bowdoin Scholar, a two-time captain of the tennis team, a Head Proctor for Residential Life and a member of a cappella group Ursus Verses. Additionally Trinka participated in numerous volunteer activities, including helping to organize a tennis tournament in Chicago (Mary Diaz and William Copeland, Jr. Memorial Tournament) which raised over $600,000 for the Mary Diaz Pancreatic Cancer Fund.

Last spring she was also awarded the college’s Michael Francis Micchiche III Award, given annually to that individual who embodies the entire Bowdoin experience; who engages the Bowdoin College community, achieves academic excellence, and earns the respect of his or her peers and professors. She was also the recipient of the Athletic Department’s Anne L.E. Dane Award for Outstanding Leadership.

Rugby news

Bowdoin has hired James Read as an assistant coach for the women’s rugby program.

Read brings extensive rugby playing and coaching experience to the position. As player for Havant RFC in the United Kingdom, Read saw action as a semi-professional and also served as an assistant coach for the Havant Academy youth team.

In 2013 he helped Portland RFC in Maine to a 9-1 record and in 2014, he served as the assistant coach for Bates College. Most recently he has expanded his coaching experience while working for Global Premier Soccer.

He owns a B.S. in sports coaching from Cardiff Metropolitan University and is a USA Rugby Level 200 coach.

The Polar Bears will open their 2018 campaign on Sept. 15 at Roger Williams.