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Volume CXXXIII, Number 3 |
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Learning lessons with men's soccer
CHRIS SAUNDERS
Staff Writer
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| Bart McMann '03 goes for a header in the Babson game on Sept. 8. (Colin LeCroy, Bowdoin Orient) |
In soccer, within a loss to a quality squad, there hides a lesson to
be learned. The Bowdoin Men's Soccer Team certainly isn't dwelling on
its problems, nor did it let a hard-fought defeat at the hands of Williams
keep it down. The men rebounded Wednesday, pummeling the University of
New England's Nor'easters by a score of 7-0. The soccer team now stands
with a record of 3-1, 1-1 in the NESCAC.
Before this rebound could occur, however, our boys had to endure a relatively
harsh beating from the Ephs last Saturday.
Williams' Alex Blake pushed a shot past sophomore goaltender Travis Derr
with only 1:20 elapsed in the game. He and Josef Powell would go on to
score two goals apiece in the first half.
Back on the field after a halftime rest, Eph Khari Stevenson found the
back of Bowdoin's net, pushing the Williams lead to an overwhelming 5-0.
It wasn't a complete washout, however. First year Thomas Bresnehan prevented
a Williams shutout, scoring off an assist from Bucky Jencks '05.
The weekend's lesson was clear: in order to regain some pride and self-confidence,
the men couldn't dwell on their loss to Williams' quality squad. This
moral was quite evident in the Polar Bears' rejuvinated play on Wednesday
against the University of New England.
The Bears' effort against UNE was not unlike a bullfight-everyone knows
how it will end, and it sure ain't pretty along the way.
While David Bulow '02 started off the scoring with his fourth goal of
the season, it was Chris Fuller '03 who stole the show. Fuller made a
statement on the field that appeared to say, "Anything you can do,
I can do better" to Bulow. He beat UNE keeper Nate Montminy twice
in just under four minutes, padding the Polar Bear lead at 3-0.
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| Danny Sullivan '05 looks to dribble past any Williams player in his way. (Henry Coppola, Bowdoin Orient) |
Not to be outdone, Bulow countered with another goal of his own, making
the score 4-0 for Bowdoin and knotting the Fuller-Bulow goals race at
two apiece.
In the second half, it was more of the same. Sophomore Jordan McQuillan
got a late start in the "Who Can Score the Most Goals?" competition,
but quickly added a goal of his own.
Fuller's two subsequent goals pushed the Bear bulge to a final score
of 7-0. Sophomore Travis Derr finished with two saves in the shutout.
Some may criticize a dominant team for running up a game's score, or
a player for taking too many shots. We've all been there, seeing one team
take a pounding from another to the point that it is painful to watch.
But to these people I say, "This isn't junior high anymore!"
When looking at the big picture, yesterday's UNE match was more than
a one-sided domination of a weak team. It gave our boys a chance to get
back on the pitch, move past last Saturday's painful match against Williams,
and get oriented towards the task of taking on Middlebury tomorrow.
The team did just that. They could have dwelt on the loss, or looked
past UNE to Middlebury and gotten caught unaware.
Instead, they pulled together as a team, put forth a solid effort, and
now are laying in wait for the Panthers. And we all know that next to
penguins, panthers are a polar bear's favorite food.
I have one piece of inspiration for our men's soccer team; the words
of a teammate before an intramural game. When asked if he would have any
trouble playing against Baxter, his former social house, he issued a statement
that clearly applies to the boys' play tomorrow against Middlebury: "After
the game, our cleats will be dripping with blood," he said.
Go out there and draw some blood, boys. GO U BEARS!