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Volume CXXXII, Number 13 |
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Despite tie to Camels, men's ice hockey feeling confident
MIKE BALULESCU
STAFF WRITER
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| Goalie on the prowl: Junior keeper Mike Healey is keen upon protecting the net. (Hans Law, Bowdoin Orient) |
The ubiquitous army of Saabs and Volvos so common to the Bowdoin Pines seemed especially appropriate last weekend, as temperatures dropped to Scandinavian levels and kept all but the hardiest of souls confined indoors.
And while most students weathered the biting cold and stayed snug in their dorm rooms, the men's hockey team was on the road, braving the frigid New England highways in search of victory against a pair of NESCAC foes.
Despite a strong 12-2 victory against Tufts University last Friday night, the Polar Bears tied a tough Connecticut College team 6-6 on Saturday afternoon and yielded their first place crown to rival Trinity College in the NESCAC standings.
Coach Terry Meagher was very pleased with Friday's results. "After last weekend [against Williams and Middlebury], we knew we needed to make some adjustments and produce more offensive chances," said Meagher. "So I was very pleased to see such an increase in offensive production."
Tufts played well for most of the game and only trailed Bowdoin 5-2 through the first two periods. However, the Polar Bears exploded for seven goals in the third period and quickly ran away with the match.
Shannon McNevan '05 scored a hat trick, and Senior Captain Sean Starke racked up a goal and three assists. Marty Brisebois '04 and first-year Adam Dann also turned in strong performances Friday night, collecting two goals apiece.
Hot off a victory and sporting an 11-2-0 season record, the Polar Bears rolled into eastern Connecticut on Saturday looking for a clean sweep of the weekend. However, an unyielding Connecticut squad refused to give in, and they nearly upset the nationally ranked Polar Bears.
Bowdoin fell behind the host Camels quickly in the match, giving up four goals and failing to score in the first period. The Polar Bears battled back to tie the game at 4-4 and then surged ahead to 6-5 in the third period on a goal by Matt Roy '06.
However, the victory was not to be, as Connecticut first-year Julian Madden found the net and tied the game with 3:57 left to play. After a lackluster overtime round, the game ended in a 6-6 tie.
Despite the disappointment, Coach Meagher was exuberant about Saturday's game. "We were down 5-1 at one point in the second period, and it takes a lot of heart and maturity to battle back the way we did," said Meagher. "I am very proud of this team, and I think what we saw on the ice [Saturday] demonstrates what this program is all about."
The Connecticut College Camels came into the game ranked last in the NESCAC with a 4-9-1 record. Nevertheless, Meagher was not perturbed by Bowdoin's performance. "This is such a deep league, and you can never count any team out, " he said. "Connecticut played hard and took advantage of opportunities, and the important thing is that we came back when we needed to."
The Polar Bears are at home this weekend for a pair of games against rivals Trinity College and Wesleyan University. Trinity is currently in first place in the conference rankings, with a 10-0-1 record in the NESCAC.
"This point of the season is why you play the game," said Meagher. "The winter season is so long, and we're fighting the cuts and bruises that every team faces down the stretch. But all in all, I like where we are."
Bowdoin plays Trinity tonight at 7:00 p.m. and takes on Wesleyan tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. GO U BEARS!
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