For the first time since February of 2007, the Bowdoin College women’s ice hockey team is ranked in the USCHO.com Division III poll.

The Polar Bears stand at ninth in the December 10th rankings by U.S. College Hockey Online. Bowdoin last appeared in the poll on February 5, 2007.

Bowdoin (4-1-1) is off to its finest start since the 2004-05 campaign, when current head coach Marissa O’Neil was a senior captain for the Polar Bears. Bowdoin is unbeaten in its last five outings overall, including a 1-1 tie against fifth-ranked Norwich last Saturday.

The team boasts the fifth-best scoring defense in Division III, having permitted just nine goals in six games (1.50 GAA) this year. Meanwhile, the Bowdoin offense is averaging 3.33 goals per game so far this winter. .

The Polar Bears will return to action with a pair of midwest games before the New Year. Bowdoin will play at St. Norbert in Wisconsin on December 29 before playing at Concordia in Minnesota on December 31.