Williams handed men's soccer its first loss of the season last weekend, as the visiting Polar Bears dropped a 2-0 decision to the Ephs.
The Ephs victory came at the expense of Bowdoin's three-game winning streak and dropped the team down to 15th place in the latest Division III men's soccer poll. Several factors contributed to the disappointing loss, namely a missed penalty at a crucial turning point of the game and a mental lapse by the normally impenetrable Bowdoin defense.
Said top scorer Nick Figueiredo '08, "As coach said at the end of the game...we know that we can physically compete and beat them."
The men pounced on their first chance at redemption when the University of New England (UNE) came to visit on Monday afternoon. The visiting Nor'easters had no idea what hit them as the Polar Bears tallied two goals in the first five minutes and never looked back. The 9-0 trouncing was led by Figueiredo and his first-half hat trick, along with first-year Hugh Fleming '10, who added two more goals to his young resume of points.
More than anything else, the victory highlighted the progress of the men's young talent this season. First-year net-minder Garrick Sheldon made an impressive debut to his Bowdoin career with 71 minutes of shutout ball, and the offense was helped by Fleming and his fellow battery mate Carl Woock '10, who scored his first goal of the season.
"It was nice to be able to see the rest of the guys who don't normally see much time," said Figueiredo.
The 9-0 victory was crucial in the team's mission to stay focused and confident ahead of this weekend's showdown with the NESCAC's top team, Amherst. The Bears will play host to the Lord Jeffs on Saturday at noon. Middlebury (2-1, 5-1 overall) will visit on Sunday, also at noon.