Volume CXXXIII, Number 7 October 26, 2001 f

Men's soccer captures CBB crown, heads to playoffs
CHRIS SAUNDERS
STAFF WRITER

The Bowdoin Men's Soccer Team clinched the CBB crown on Wednesday afternoon with a 2-0 drubbing of Bates College. Last Saturday, the Polar Bears downed Colby, the other team rounding out the CBB rivalry, by a score of 2-1, and placed themselves in a position to claim statewide bragging rights.
The two wins clinched a playoff spot in the NESCAC tournament for the Polar Bears, and increased the team's chances of a possible NCAA at-large bid if they end up losing in the upcoming tournament.

The men's soccer team plays Wesleyan tomorrow for its last regular-season home game at noon. (Colin LeCroy, Bowdoin Orient)

Adding to the celebratory nature of this week's games were the accomplishments of David Bulow, who scored his 14th goal of the season at Colby, and added his 15th and 16th of the year on Wednesday against Bates.
Bulow now holds the single season scoring mark at Bowdoin and is one away from tying the career goals scored record.

Saturday's game lived up to what a match between the Polar Bears and the White Mules should be: plenty of intensity, physical play, and ultimately, a Bowdoin victory.

Quickly establishing his authority in the match, the referee tagged a White Mule player with a yellow card just five minutes into the game. The booking did not prevent things from getting chippy, though, as it quickly became evident that Colby couldn't keep up with Bowdoin and was forced to use unorthodox methods to hold the Polar Bears in check.

These tactics seemed to be working for the first thirty minutes of the game, until Jeff Corsetti '02 made a brilliant run from the backfield and ripped the ball into the back of the White Mule net.

Colby managed to squeak a ball past Bowdoin goalkeeper Travis Derr '04 at 41:26 in the first half, but just two minutes later, Bulow countered with a nasty strike that careened off the far post and in.

The second half provided little action, despite a Colby player's red card for viciously tackling senior Patrick Bracewell and the resulting man-down play for the rest of the game.

The game's highlights included the play of Corsetti, who appeared to be all over the field at times, and the firm composure of senior captain Reeves Livesay in the backfield. He was a significant force in limiting the White Mules to three shots on goal, and the remarkable chances that developed around Bulow.

Against Bates on Wednesday, the Polar Bears used overwhelming defense in the first half and stellar play by Derr in the second to put the Bobcates away, thus capturing the CBB title.

Bulow netted a goal in each half, the first set up by Bracewell and the second by both Bracewell and Bart McMann '03.

Not only did Bowdoin establish itself as the best team in Maine, but firmly positioned itself at the top of the NESCAC.

In tomorrow's game against Wesleyan, the last matchup of the regular season, Bowdoin has an opportunity to clinch third place in the tournament, and possibly move to second place. In order for this to happen, the men are hoping that Williams will take down Middlebury in another NESCAC matchup tomorrow.

Regardless of Saturday's results, the Polar Bears will have to visit Middlebury on Sunday for the first round of the NESCAC playoffs. They will face either Wesleyan, Trinity, or Bates in the first round.

The Bears hope to make a solid run in the NESCAC championship race this weekend, and have a great chance to make the NCAA's.

Good luck to all our teams this weekend, Go U Bears!