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Volume CXXXIII, Number 18 |
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Lacrosse remains undefeated with 13-10 win over Wheaton
Bobby Desaulniers
STAFF WRITER
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| Ford Gurall '04 fires and connects on a shot. Gurall tallied 26 points last season and will be essential to the team's attack once again this year. (Bowdoin Orient) |
The Bowdoin College Men's Lacrosse Team hopes to reclaim its top-tier status this season, and with a 5-0 record and strong national ranking, is well on its way.
On Tuesday, Bowdoin took on Wheaton, coming back from a slow start to win 13-10.
The game was scoreless for the first six minutes until Connor Fitzgerald '06, Chris Eaton '06, and Kevin Mullins '07 triggered the scoring for Bowdoin within two minutes of each other. Fitzgerald then tallied another goal, followed by Ford Baker '06.
Bowdoin could not keep its opponent scoreless for much longer as Wheaton went on a 4-1 scoring run, ending the half at 6-4.
Bowdoin kept up the scoring in the second half as Wheaton failed to close the gap. At the end of the game, Fitzgerald tallied four for Bowdoin, Baker and Eaton had two apiece, and Ford Gurall '04, Mullins, Andy Nelson '06, Phil Stern '05, and Alex Weaver '07 each contributed one.
This top-level play is characteristic of the team thus far this season. The team defeated Williams 9-5 before break and bested St. Lawrence, Hamilton, and Union while in Florida over Spring Break.
Last year the team was carried by senior leadership and ended its season at 7-9 overall, placing Bowdoin in the number-seven position in the league. Although the team placed in the middle of the rankings for goals per game, the team let in 10.4 goals per matchup. Improving upon defense was a main focus last season and will be a deciding factor in the team's success this spring.
Key losses come mostly on the offensive side for Bowdoin. The biggest loss was first team All-NESCAC attacker Kyle Curtiss. Last season, he led the league in scoring with 47 goals, averaging almost three goals per game.
Former captain Jordan Faye was also a key loss for the team. The defenseman earned second team All-NESCAC honors and started every game in 2003. Fellow defenseman Jaime Nichols, who earned an honorable mention for the All-New England Team, will also be missed on defense.
Even with those losses, Bowdoin returns some youthful players who have promising futures. The first is attacker Fitzgerald. The returning sophomore placed sixth in the league in points per game and second in assists per game. Gurall, who tallied 26 points last season, will accompany Fitzgerald at the attack position.
This season will be defined by Bowdoin's ability to defend the net. The losses of Faye and Nichols could be problematic; however, seniors Graham Jones and Austin Branson have the ability to shut down opposing attackers. Building upon last season, it seems that Bowdoin should not struggle offensively.
The team takes on Connecticut College away tomorrow with high hopes of maintaining its undefeated record.
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