The Battle of Bryn Mawr Belongs to Baldwin: Polar Bears Top Rival Shipley in Front of Packed Home Crowd

 

On a sun-splashed Friday afternoon, with bounce houses in the background and water ice in hand, The Baldwin School delivered a performance that mirrored the atmosphere: vibrant, energetic, and ultimately victorious.

In front of a raucous home crowd drawn in by Baldwin’s back-to-school celebration, the Polar Bears edged non-league rival The Shipley School 1–0 in the latest edition of the Battle of Bryn Mawr — a rivalry fueled as much by geography (the campuses sit less than a quarter-mile apart) as by pride.

Freshman forward Claire Hsia, unfazed by the weight of the occasion, delivered the decisive blow with seven minutes remaining, rifling a low line-drive shot past the Shipley goalkeeper from inside the box. The goal was the culmination of a fluid link-up with junior co-captain Makena Lee, whose quick turn and deft pass 30 yards from goal carved open a tight Gators defense.

"Makena played me a great ball," Hsia said postgame. "I saw the space and just went for it. It’s a moment I’ll always remember."

Baldwin (2-0-0) was the more dominant side from the opening whistle, outshooting Shipley 16–3 and controlling large spells of possession. Yet for much of the game, the final pass or finish evaded them — a testament to both Shipley’s resilience and Baldwin’s still-developing sharpness in front of goal.

"That was a game where we had to stay patient," head coach Adrian Cox said. "We created chance after chance but couldn’t find the net. Credit to our players for sticking with it, not forcing it, and continuing to play smart, composed soccer."

Hsia and Lee were relentless all game, combining for 14 of Baldwin’s 16 shots. Their movement off the ball — Hsia’s explosive runs and Lee’s ability to drop deep and create — consistently pulled the Gators' backline out of shape.

But Baldwin’s victory was as much about defensive discipline as attacking flair.

The central midfield pairing of sophomore Sierra Gilbert and freshman Ally Walker set the tone early, pressing Shipley’s trio into uncomfortable spaces, winning second balls, and distributing intelligently. Gilbert’s work rate drew applause from the crowd multiple times, while Walker’s composure in the defensive third belied her age.

Behind them, the center-back duo of freshman Mia Wendler and junior co-captain Kyla Walker were immovable. Wendler, in particular, played with veteran calm, snuffing out counters and organizing a backline that has now recorded back-to-back clean sheets.

Junior goalkeeper Anaka Boyd-Volz was sharp when called upon, making five saves — including a leaping effort early in the second half to parry away Shipley’s best look on goal. Her second shutout in as many games has helped Baldwin open the season with a perfect defensive record.

"That back four — really the whole defensive unit — is incredibly disciplined," Cox said. "Mia and Kyla are anchors back there. They make the game look easy, but it’s a product of how hard they train and how smart they play."

The outside midfielders — Avery Stoops, Elise Skawinski, Scarlett Rushing, Sophia Papatheoharis, and Sophie Welsh — gave Baldwin width and variety in the attack, stretching Shipley’s shape and delivering quality service into the box. Outside backs Zoey Schaubel and Annie Reed were equally impactful, defending 1v1 confidently and starting several attacks with smart distribution from the back.

What made the win even more impressive — and perhaps most exciting for Baldwin’s future — was the sheer number of underclassmen playing key roles. Eight freshmen and five sophomores are logging major minutes for a team that has shown early signs of being ahead of schedule.

“This group is so fun to coach,” said Cox. “They’re coachable, they’re hungry, and they genuinely care about each other. That chemistry shows in how they play. You can’t teach that.”

As the sun dipped below Lower Field and the food trucks packed up, Baldwin fans left with more than just full stomachs — they saw a team that might just be built for a memorable season.

Next up for the Polar Bears: a road trip to Germantown Friends School on Tuesday, Sept. 9. And while Inter-Ac League play is still weeks away, Baldwin is already showing signs they’ll be a force when it arrives.