Despite a valiant effort and a close game, the Bowdoin Men's Lacrosse Team fell to Tufts this week, which ended the team's six-game winning streak.
With the 12-11 loss on Wednesday, the men's record falls to 6-1 (2-1 in the NESCAC).
"It was a bitter loss," stated senior captain Graham Jones.
Bowdoin led 4-3 after the first period but only managed to score twice in the second and third periods.
The Jumbos took a 9-6 advantage going into the fourth period and put away three more to make it 12-6 with 7:46 left on the clock.
The Polar Bears rallied to score five straight goals, four of which fell in the last 3:12 minutes of the game. Senior Joe Andrasko's goal with ten seconds left brought the Polar Bears to within a point of the Jumbos.
"Joe Andrasko came up really big, winning the face-offs in the crucial moments of the game," said Jones.
Bowdoin then won the face-off, but Tufts's defense held off the attack and sealed the game for the Jumbos.
"The guys showed a lot of character," said coach Thomas McCabe. "Despite this loss, we still have a very good team and will continue to grow the rest of the season."
Bowdoin's Phil Stern '05 and Carl Klimt '06 each had two goals, and Ford Gurall '04, Ford Barker '06, Connor Fitzgerald '06, Andy Nelson '06, Pat Ryan '07, and Andrasko each tallied one. Goalie Grant White '04 made ten saves.
Jones put the loss into perspective saying, "We'll see them again in the playoffs, and we will beat them."
Bowdoin entered the game against Tufts coming off a 9-4 win against Connecticut College on Saturday.
Captain Gurall scored twice with Chris Eaton '06, Fitzgerald, Ryan Hurd '06, Matt Neidlinger '06, Alex Weaver '07, Baker, and Nelson scoring once. First year Kevin Mullins had two assists. With 11 saves, Bowdoin had which McCabe described as "solid goaltending by Grant White."
"It turned out to be a great day for us both offensively and defensively," said Jones. "Their defense couldn't keep up with our offense, and our defense shut down their offense. An all-around great team win."
Tomorrow Bowdoin will face Wesleyan at home at 1:00 p.m. Wesleyan, 0-2 in league play as of April 4, will present a good game.
"We're still looking for those players that shine," said McCabe. Fitzgerald, two-time NESCAC Player of the Week this season will surely run up a storm Saturday with the help of Andrasko, who bested all the face-off men in the league.
"Our team is very strong in many aspects such as speed, depth, scoring ability, defense, ground balls, face-offs, and the desire to win," points out first-year David Donahue.
Bowdoin, still to face fellow number one NESCAC ranked schools Amherst and Middlebury, will be sure to put up a good fight.
"If we're playing well," said McCabe, "we're tough to beat and can take on any school."