Photo Flash-Back: The Dempsey Challenge, October 3, 2010

In another community-service based activity, the team served as a “cheering squad” along the bike route during the 2nd Annual Patrick Dempsey Challenge. The 2010 Dempsey Challenge attracted 4177 participants from 38 states and five countries, employed over 1000 volunteers and raised over $1.1. Events ranged from a 5K run on Saturday to bike rides of 10, 25, 50 and 100 miles.
The Bobcats were stationed at a particularly challenging uphill along the racecourse, around mile marker 94/44/21(depending on how far each rider was going!). As a result, their cheers of encouragement were met with laughs, smiles, and thankful nods (from those too winded to speak) from the riders. Steve Mortimer, Volunteer Cheer Team Coordinator and Bates Alum '72, sent an email to the team after the event that read in part,

"I don’t know how many riders told you in person, but back at the finish, you were the talk of the Event - no exaggeration! You really made a huge difference.

Every rider I spoke with or overheard was excited about, and thankful for, the amazing support you provided - rider after rider came in talking about the great cheer team that raised their falling spirits and got them through the tough final 4 miles.

Bates Field Hockey is unquestionably the toast of the Dempsey Challenge riders! And that includes riders from almost 40 states. If they hadn’t heard of Bates before today, they know about it now!!
I tried to thank you all personally when I stopped on my way by, but you were so busy rooting riders on that I don’t think anyone even heard me yelling to you!

Please pass along my thanks, and the thanks of the thousands of riders, volunteers and workers associated with the Dempsey Challenge and Center, to your entire team. Words cannot express how important your efforts were, nor how much we all appreciate what you did for us.

You did a truly incredible thing today, and you should feel extremely proud of what you accomplished on behalf of those fighting cancer and all those who love and care about them."

Steve's sister, Leslie Mortimer, Bates class of '77 joined the Bobcat station and had these words to say about the team:

"I was welcomed with open arms by the group and had a blast spending the morning with them. I was freezing and tired, but laughing with them and participating in their antics soon warmed me up and made me forget that I'd rather have been in bed. They are a group of lovely, enthusiastic and sprited young women--much like my classmates at Bates many years ago. I admire them for getting up at the crack of dawn and for sacrificing the time they could have used to sleep or prepare for exams they had today. Being with them made me feel like a college kid again, if only for a few hours!"

Head coach Wynn Hohlt rode the 100 mile loop and raised over $1500.00 for the Dempsey Center. "The ride was a great experience and I am so glad that the team got involved too. After the shock of the early morning wore off, they had a great time! We are looking forward to being even more involved next year."

The Dempsey Challenge benefits The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center. Click on this link to learn more about “McDreamy’s” vision for cancer research and the cure: http://www.dempseychallenge.org/. GO BOBCATS!

The Bates Field Hockey Store is open for business!

We are excited to share with you the opening of the Bates Field Hockey store. It offers you a quick and easy way to get all of your Bates field hockey gear as well as Bates Bobcat sideline chairs.

Photo Flash-Back: Play 4 The Cure Game, Saturday, October 16, 2010, vs. Wesleyan

Above: The Bobcats lookin’ good in their vintage (circa 1980’s) pink uniforms.

The month of October is nationally recognized as the official Breast Cancer Awareness Month of the National Susan G. Komen Foundation. For the past three years the Bobcats have gotten in on the action raising money and awareness. This year, in addition to wearing pink socks and special NESCAC field hockey warm-up t-shirts, the Bobcats sported pink retro jerseys.

We also sold T-shirts, Play 4 the Cure bracelets and specially designed "'Cats 4 The Cure" headbands. The proceeds from these sales allowed us to make a gift to the non-profit Susan G. Komen Foundation of $260.00.

The team is looking forward to representing this amazing foundation again this coming fall.

For more information, visit http://play4thecure.com/about_us. GO BOBCATS!

Community Service Update

The Bobcats had a fantastic time volunteering at the Good Shepherd Food Pantry warehouse in Auburn, Maine, last week. It was another opportunity to give back to the local community, and the team certainly made the most of our 2 hours of giving. At various points, the Bobcats displayed a perchance for song & dance, and of course plenty of laughing! The team split into two groups, and were responsible for identifying, unloading, and separating various foodstuffs. The Good Shepherd Food Pantry distributes millions of pounds of food that are needed to aid various hunger relief agencies throughout the state. We look forward to returning again! Click here to learn more about Good Shepherd and how you can help: http://gsfb.org/.

Nine Bobcats named to NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad

Lewiston, ME – Nine members of the field hockey team were named to the 2010 Gladiator/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Squad. The National Academic Squad program recognizes those collegiate student-athletes who have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 through the first semester of the 2010-11 academic year.

Bates's honored athletes included four-time honoree Zoe Donaldson '11 (Bronxville, NY).

Also recognized from Bates were three-time honorees Amanda Brusca '12 (Pride's Crossing, MA) and Sarah Merullo '12 (Essex, MA) and two-time honoree Alie Philip '13 (Simsbury, CT). Michelle Brady '13 (Milton, MA),Bridget Meedzan '14 (Ipswich, MA), Polly Merck '14 (Beverly, MA), Kate Pagano '14 (Worcester, MA) and Sarah Warden '14 (North Andover, MA) are all first-time honorees.

In addition to the individual accolades, Bates was one of 106 Division III teams to earn the 2010 NFHCA Division III National Academic Team Award. This award recognizes those institutions that achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 during the first semester of the 2010-11 academic year.

Winter Update

Happy 2011!

With 2010 already quite far behind us, the New Year has seen a sundry of off-season activities for the Bobcats. After returning refreshed from winter break nearly a week ago, everyone is settling into academia once again, working hard in classrooms both on campus and across the pond in study-abroad programs. Outside of study sessions and essay writing, the team is also taking advantage of bi-weekly conditioning & strength training classes offered by the college, in addition to working on individual hockey inside of the Gray Cage. The coaching staff has been working diligently in the office and at various recruiting events across the nation. As a result, the incoming class of Bobcats is starting to take definitive shape. Another exciting happening was the election of our captains for the 2011 season: congratulations to Kelly McManus and Sarah Merullo! Stay tuned for more updates as the winter season winds down – we’re sure that everyone is looking forward to warm, if muddy, spring months. GO BOBCATS!

BOBCATS GARNER ACADEMIC HONORS

The Bates field hockey squad was well represented on the 2010 NESCAC Fall All-Academic Team. To be honored, a student-athlete must have reached sophomore academic standing and be a varsity letter winner with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.35.


Michelle Brady '13
A sophomore striker from Milton, Mass. who appeared in all 15 games starting 10 of them and had 2 goals and an assist. Michelle's work in the classroom allowed her to benefit from the conference making sophomores eligible for this recognition in 2010.








Amanda Brusca '12
A junior defender from Prides Crossing, Mass. Amanda appeared in all 15 games and started in 13. Amanda was a member of the NFHCA All-Academic Squad in 2009 and would have qualified for NESCAC recognition if sophomores had been included last fall.







Zoe Donaldson '11
Senior captain and a defender from Bronxville, NY, Zoe started in all 15 games this season. She led the team with 5 defensive saves. Zoe garnered this honor last year as well as a spot on the NFHCA All-Academic Squad.








Sarah Merullo '12
A junior midfielder from Essex, Mass Sarah also started all 15 games in 2010. After being shifted from the defense into the midfield, she scored 2 goals. Like Amanda, Sarah was ineligible for this honor in 2009 due to class year. Sarah was named to the 2009 NFHCA All-Academic Squad.