The high-flying men's hockey team was brought down to Earth following a weekend of difficult away games. The Polar Bears defeated Castleton Friday night 5-3 before slipping Saturday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in a 6-4 loss against Skidmore, their first loss of the season.
The Bears were quick to establish a first period lead against Castleton as Brunswick native Kit Smith '11 notched the game's first goal at 12:35.
Ryan Blossom '10 then stuck one just three minutes later with a goal at 15:45. The Polar Bears' offense could not be contained, and co-captain Matt Smith '09 scored his second of the season just 23 seconds later.
The Spartans mounted a Herculean comeback in the second period to notch three successive goals. Three different players struck within eight minutes to bring the game level.
The Bears, however, mounted a precise and immediate response. Graham Sisson '12 scored at 11:06 in the second, giving Bowdoin the lead.
With the game poised at 4-3, the Bears kept their cool to contain the Spartans until Blossom scored his second of the game. His third of the season, Blossom struck home an empty-netter with 27 seconds remaining in the game.
Currently boasting a .914 save percentage, goalie Richard Nerland '12 recorded 24 saves in the win.
Two-goal hero Blossom was happy with the team's performance.
"We kinda grinded a win out on the road, it was a pretty good win for the team," he said.
Blossom was quick to cite others as the reason for the team's success. "Offensively we did pretty well. [Trent Blossom and Aaron O'Callahan] play[ed] really well up front for us," he said.
Saturday proved to be quite different as the Skidmore Thoroughbreds raced out of the blocks to deliver Bowdoin their first defeat of the season.
Skidmore's players put their team up 3-0 with 3:53 gone in the second.
However, the Bears clawed their way back into the game as Matt Smith scored with 5:40 elapsed in the second. Collins scored again just 13 seconds later. Sophomore Jeff Fanning then pulled the Bears level at 11:55.
Following a second period Skidmore goal, Blossom scored Bowdoin's last of the night to tie the game for a second time after 4:24 in the third.
With 11:23 gone in the frame, Skidmore went ahead again and then iced the game for Skidmore with an empty-net goal at 19:16.
Goalie Chris Rossi '10 rebuffed 19 of 23 shots in his second appearance of the season.
Despite the loss, Blossom remained positive about the performance of the team in the tricky away game.
"To go into winter break 5-1-1 is awesome," he said. "A lot of teams would love to have a record like that."
However, he was quick to emphasize that despite its stellar record, complacency would not creep into the squad.
"Being 5-1-1 and not happy with the way we're playing in general is pretty good," said Blossom.
Bowdoin currently sits fourth in NESCAC rankings.