Courtesy of Brian Beard

The men’s soccer team (6–1–1; 2–1–1 NESCAC) is no longer undefeated after a 1-1 tie to Middlebury College (4–1–2; 1–1–2 NESCAC) and a 2–1 loss to Williams College (3–0–4; 2–0–2 NESCAC) last weekend. Prior to those two matches, the team was 5–0–0, scoring more than four goals in three of those matches. The Polar Bears were able to get back into the win column on Wednesday with a 4–0 win over Thomas College.

Head Coach Scott Wiercinski viewed the weekend setback as an opportunity to learn.

“[Last] weekend was in some respects the first bit of adversity, at least on the scoreboard, that we’ve seen. I feel very confident that we’re going to respond very well,” Wiercinski said.

Wiercinski remains optimistic, explaining that the team can make a comeback if it works to target the areas that cost it last weekend’s matches.

“We need to continue to improve,” Wiercinski said. “I think we need to play faster. I think we need to share the ball a bit quicker [and] make some more dangerous decisions about where we decide to pass the ball, and ultimately we have to finish chances.”

Bowdoin had more shots on goal than both Middlebury and Williams, outshooting the teams 11-7 and 15-4 respectively, and also dominated in corner kicks.

“I think we created enough chances over the course of the weekend. But you know whether it was technique or whether it was positioning or whether it was movement off the ball and just some of those things lacked a little bit to get the ball over the line,” Wiercinski said.

Midfielder Tyler Hucks ’26 scored the game-tying goal against Middlebury.

“I think we were all pretty frustrated in the game that we hadn’t had a goal yet, because we kept creating chances and just couldn’t get one in. It was definitely relieving to get that one,” Hucks said. “In the moment, the thought was to just keep going and try and get the winner because it felt like we were really on top of that game.”

The team found the response it was looking for on Wednesday when it outshot Thomas College 46–1. Midfielder Luke Macaione ’25 started the Polar Bears off with a goal in the twenty third minute of the match. In the second half, forward Matt Braver ’23 scored two goals in a span of just over three minutes. Bowdoin’s final goal came from midfielder Drew Phillips ’25, who added a tally in the eighty third minute off an assist from Braver.

Carlton Steinberg ’24, who had two shots on goal against Williams, believes the team still has a lot of faith in its offensive prowess.

“I think our team is shaping up very well. I think a lot of our success is due to our cohesive team play and talent depth,” Steinberg wrote in an email to the Orient.

Looking forward, the team is resetting and preparing for more conference play.

“We don’t have a NESCAC game for two weeks. So the plan is to recover a bit, get some guys back healthy, just move on and focus on the games up ahead,” Huck said.

The Polar Bears’s next match will be against Husson University in Bangor on Wednesday, October 5.