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Volume CXXXI, Number 23 |
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Men's lax to host playoff game
HENRY COPPOLA
ORIENT STAFF
The Bowdoin Men's Lacrosse Team rebounded from a disappointing loss to
in-state rival Bates on April 16 with wins over NESCAC foes Amherst and
archrival Colby this week.
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| Senior captain Josh Allen looks upfield in Saturday's matchup with Amherst. The Bears stand at 9-3 overall. (Henry Coppola, Bowdoin Orient) |
The two wins push the Polar Bears' record to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the
NESCAC, ensuring that the Bears will have a home playoff game this Sunday.
"We have positioned ourselves very well going into the NESCAC tourney,"
head coach Tom McCabe said.
Bowdoin has clinched the number two seed for the NESCAC tournament, but
the possibility exists for the Bears to ascend to the number one seed
if Bates defeats current number one Middlebury this weekend.
If that doesn't happe and things hold steady, Bowdoin will host either
Amherst, Bates, Tufts, or Wesleyan in first round action on Sunday afternoon.
If the Bears win that game, they will travel to Middlebury for the NESCAC
Final Four.
Bowdoin, currently ranked 15th in the country, is the only team to defeat
the Panthers, who sit at number two in the nation, this year. McCabe called
the Middlebury win "as good a one as we've had in my twelve years
here at Bowdoin."
The Bears got back on the winning track after a disappointment against
Bates, eking out a 10-9 overtime victory over Amherst on Saturday. The
game was marked by back-and-forth play, with the scored tied (6-6) at
halftime and again at nine at the end of regulation.
Ted Scholhamer '03 netted the game-winner, and his second goal of the
afternoon, at 3:19 in overtime.
The Bears continued their winning ways on Wednesday evening with an 8-5
thumping of Colby. Senior captains Josh Allen and Hunter Walter led the
way offensively, with Allen recording a hat trick and Walter earning four
points on two assists and two goals.
The Polar Bear defense stepped it up as well, allowing only 14 shots
from the White Mules. Goalie P.J. Prest '02 stopped nine of those.
Bowdoin thoroughly dominated the game's second half. After going into
halftime knotted at 4-4, the Bears allowed Colby only one second-half
goal and a miserly four shots.
Allen scored quickly to open the third quarter and gave Bowdoin a lead
it would never look back from. Walter scored one of the Bears' prettiest
goals all season-a quick pass from senior Simon McKay at 6:49 of the third
to make it 7-4, before the Bears iced the win with an eighth goal in the
final frame.
Walter and Allen currently lead the team in points with 37 for Walter
(18-19) and 36 for Allen (29-7). McCabe praised both players for their
increased offensive output this season. He also commended the defense
as a whole, a group that is centered around Prest in net and Jamie Nichols
'03, "the best long-stick midfielder in New England and maybe in
all of Division III," he said.
The Bears will travel to Trinity tomorrow to play their final regular season game, which should serve as a tune up for Sunday's playoff match. As the men march towards the postseason, McCabe said he "could not be happier with the team's progress this season. We have emerged on offense and built our team around a very strong defense."