The New England Small College (NESC) conference banked its first games of the season, and Bowdoin made an early, emphatic case for its dominance in the league. Last year, the Polar Bears suffered an early loss to Tufts before winning the NESC title and automatic bid to the ACRA playoffs. Bowdoin advanced to the 2013 quarterfinals before losing 15-5 to Kutztown.

Bowdoin put up 45 points in the first half and nearly matched that tally in the second, downing Amherst 92-0 on Saturday.

Charlotte Kleiman led the first 40 with a brace of tries, while Randi London, Samantha Hoegle, Anna Piotti (pictured), Pamela Zabala and Emily Athanas-Linden scored one apiece. London converted five of seven first-half tries.

The second half saw Addison Carvajal take center stage, dotting down three tries and adding six conversions for a total of 27 points.

The runaway allowed several players to get comfortable in their new roles. Emily King, new to scrumhalf, and first-time flanker Paige Pfannestiel impressed, as did Cristina Lima, who debuted at prop.

Bowdoin’s B side also enjoyed victory on the weekend, defeating Connecticut College 10-0. Georgia Bolduc scored in the first half after a 35-meter sprint, and Cammie Odgen-Fung side-stepped her way into the try zone for the late second-half score. Conn College is new to the NESC and will spend this inaugural season playing teams' B sides.

“In addition to the wonderful potential from the entering Class of 2018, Bowdoin College Women's Rugby welcomes three incoming first-year students with experience: Sedonna Goeman-Shulsky, Elizabeth Mills and Vianney Gomezkil-Yaspik,” Bowdoin coach MaryBeth Mathews said of the program’s rising talent. Mathews has also assumed the presidency of ACRA, which enters its second year of existence and will contest its championship on Dec. 6-7 in Florida.

In other NESC news, Colby started the season with a 36-10 win over Maine-Orono. Colby’s Jade Enright led all scorers with three tries, while Emma Rosenfield, Jumana Hashim and newcomer Laura Wu all added five-pointers. Rosenfield added one conversion, while Allie Martins slotted two.

Tufts toughed out a 14-5 victory over Middlebury, sending Gracie Dietshe and Betsy Kirtland over for tries.

During week two, Bowdoin will host Tufts, Colby travels to Middlebury, Amherst plays Bates, and Williams takes on Maine-Orono.