The Bowdoin women rallied after last weekend’s defeat to Rhode Island in the NERFU playoffs with a 29-19 victory over SUNY Fredonia during Saturday’s NRU DII College playoffs.

Bowdoin raced out a 17-0 lead that began with an early penalty slotted by Randi London. The first try of the game evolved from a midfield scrum and saw the ball work out to Kerry Townsend, who inserted from the fullback position, hit the gap and sped past her defenders; London hit the conversion. The forwards built the next score, driving downfield and sucking in the defense. Enough room opened up for scrumhalf Katie Mathews to hit London powering onto the ball, and she broke the line for the score, 17-0

Fredonia attempted to relieve pressure with some tactical kicking, but Townsend and backrow players Helen White and Lynn Freedman did a good job of fielding the kicks and counterattacking well. Bowdoin was able to maintain a lot of possession and absorb Fredonia’s attacking lines, but the New York State team wasn’t ready to bow just yet.

In the second half, Fredonia’s pressure mounted and the team supported its linebreaks well, resulting in two tries out of the backs and a conversion, 17-12.

The teams then traded scores, with prop Anissa Tanksley scoring off a penalty play and London slotting a beautiful conversion from a difficult angle (24-12). Fredonia followed with an inside center crash that led to a converted try beneath the post.

There the game stood at 24-19 with 12 minutes remaining. Townsend, White, Mathews, Danielle McAvoy and Uche Esonu rooted the Bowdoin defense, and prevented any more Fredonia points on the board. London added some cushion with six minutes remaining, scooping up a loose ball in open play and rushing the line for the try, 29-19.

Bowdoin will face the biggest competition of its season this weekend when they take on Norwich in the NRU semifinals. The victors of that match will play the winner of Rutgers v Vassar.