The Bowdoin Orient

December 8, 2000
Volume CXXXII, Number 12

Colby goes down in flames

by ALISON MCCONNELL, STAFF WRITER

   Dayton Arena echoed with drumbeats, cheers, and chants (some directed at a particular yellow tank top-wearing Colby fan) last Tuesday, as the men's hockey team buried Colby's White Mules in a rousing 5-2 defeat.
   "It was great to see the school out to support us," Head Coach Terry Meagher said. "It was a fun and wild night, and a big win for Bowdoin College."
   Five different Bowdoin forwards scored in the matchup, backed by some excellent defense. Junior Brian Shuman received the Peter Schuh trophy, which recognized the game's most valuable player for his first-rate defense. The Schuh is given every year to the Bowdoin/Colby game's MVP.
   Meagher cited his two captain's defensive contributions and leadership as well. Captain Colin Robinson '01 stopped some impressive shots, making 18 saves for the win. "Colin was quiet and steady in the goal," Meagher said. "He gave us exactly what we needed."
   The crowd clearly appreciated the effort, cheering him along while providing a bit of criticism for J.D. Hadrias, Colby's goalkeeper. "The students are so supportive, and the class they showed in the manner in which they did so was very much appreciated," Meagher said.
   "It was great to see how the Bowdoin tradition works," added first-year Mike O'Neill. "The crowd was really great."
   Assists from Mike Carosi '02 and Albert Mayer '03, junior Bill Busch started off the Bowdoin scoring with a power play goal five minutes into the first period. Colby's James LaLiberty answered back 13 minutes later, beating Robinson for the 1-1 tie.
   After the break, junior Andy McNerney took a pass from Busch with 16:28 elapsed in the frame. His shot deflected off Hadrias's glove for the game's only second-period goal. Momentum picked up from that point in the game. "We got some goals and the crowd just gets behind you from there," O'Neill said.
    Five minutes into the last frame, senior captain Alex Tatum's slapshot found Mike O'Leary '01 in front for the third Bowdoin goal. Marty Brisebois dished out an assist to fellow first-year O'Neill a minute later, pushing the score to 4-1. Albert Mayer's short-handed goal, off a pass from O'Leary, found its way into the empty net and sealed the deal for Bowdoin with three minutes left to play.
    Colby managed one final goal with 2:21 remaining in the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. In the end, the Bears had fired 33 shots at Hadrias, outpacing Colby's 20 shots.
   Meagher was pleased with the matchup's outcome. "We played a very balanced and confident game, and did very well communicating as a team," he said.
   The Bears went 1-1 last weekend, losing 1-3 to Salem State and defeating Southern Maine by a margin of 5-3. Dave Rush '02 scored Bowdoin's only goal in Friday's loss, and Sean Starke '03 put two goals and an assist on the board in the USM matchup. Robinson made a combined 47 saves in both games.
   O'Neill said that beating Colby made up for the Salem State loss. "We struggled over the weekend, but now we're getting back on track," he said. "Hopefully we'll keep it up and get on a roll."
   The team is 4-2-1 overall, and 4-1-0 in NESCAC, a record good for a first-place tie with Trinity. Adam Mantin '03 is currently tied for 2nd place in NESCAC's goals scored category, and Ryan Seymour '02 is also tied for 4th place in the points category with seven assists on the season.
   The Bears host the U.S. National Under-18 team tonight at Dayton for an exhibition game. The U-18 squad consists of national-level players, most of whom have committed to Division I schools next year. They took a 3-1 loss to the University of Maine recently, after beating Michigan State.
   The team seems to be looking forward to tonight's match.
   "We're really excited for the game," Coach Meagher said. "They aren't playing any other New England teams, and it will be a tough level of competition."
   "I'll take games like this anytime. In playing a national team such as this, the experience is invaluable. It should be a high-energy game," he added.
    The Bears will be competing in the Salem State tournament right after Christmas, and have five games before winter break's end. "The tournament is a great opportunity to play a Boston game, and since we've got a lot of kids from the North Shore, there will be a lot of families and alums there," Meagher said.

Men's hockey defeats Colby 5-2. (Colin LeCroy/Bowdoin Orient)