Bowdoin College just missed out on last year's ACRA women's DII final four, when the team dropped a 10-point game to Kutztown in the quarterfinals. In 2014, the Polar Bears have shown no sign of sulking and outscored opponents 556-5. Last weekend, Bowdoin wrapped up its New England Small College season with a third consecutive title, defeating fellow finalist Tufts 44-0. 

Three minutes in and Bowdoin was five points up, thanks to outside center Samantha Hoegle, who looped the line and won the race to the corner for the first of her two tries. No. 8 Randi London followed, picking from a scrum deep in Tufts' end. The loose forward barreled her way through would-be tacklers and into the try zone for the 10-0 lead.

London's try was only the beginning of the back row fireworks. Flankers Paige Pfannenstiel (three tries) and Cammie Ogden-Fung led the way in stealing possession, winning lineouts, and driving tackles. London also added two conversions on the day. By halftime, Bowdoin led 27-0.

Arguably the nicest try of the game came late in the second half when, from a clean lineout, the backline worked the ball from Hayleigh Kein to Charlotte Kleiman, who sprinted 40 meters for the try. The game ended with first-year prop Vianney Gomezgil Yaspik taking a quick-tap penalty from five meters out and diving over the line, 44-0.

Bowdoin has impressed all fall, but those big scorelines also reflect the competitiveness - or more accurately, lack thereof - of the conference. The Polar Bears are not alone in this predicament, but many other teams attempt to correct the imbalance with tough friendlies. Bowdoin has not played outside of its conference yet, and that might be the only thing that helps Colorado College - Bowdoin's Round of 32 opponent. Colorado College is playing against the odds - traveling across the country for a one-off game - but it has competed in pressurized games, and that experience is valuable.

That said, Bowdoin is favored to advance to the Round of 16, where it'll face the winner of Tri-State champion Rutgers vs. Rugby Northeast #2 St. Michael's on Nov. 15. See the full DII fall championship brackets here.