After a pair of thrilling home games, the Polar Bears will take on perennial NESCAC powerhouse Middlebury this Saturday. The 5-2 Panthers, coming off a dominating performance against NESCAC-rival Amherst, take on an invigorated Bowdoin team looking to build on its victory over the arch-rival Mules from Colby.
"It's going to come down to defense, these NESCAC games are always low scoring so we'll have to keep their offense at bay. If we do we have confidence, we can come away with a big win," said sophomore goaltender Chris Williamson.
In a gritty, back-and-forth battle, the Polar Bears held on for the 11-10 win over Colby on Wednesday night.
"The most important thing is we get a conference win on the schedule," said Williamson. "Regardless of how good either team is, it's always going to be a battle when we play Colby and they've been playing very well so it gives confidence going forward."
Under a light rain, the Polar Bears and Mules exchanged goals before Colby took the lead at 5-3 with a three-goal run.
Bowdoin attackman Russell Halliday '11 refused to let Colby get any further ahead as he poured in two spectacular goals, including an off-balance, diving attempt just before the end of the second quarter to tie the score at 5-5 going into halftime.
Colby opened the half with a pair of quick goals before Ben Chadwick '11 and Halliday responded with a goal each to keep the scores level.
Just before the end of the third quarter, Colby scored a pair of goals within six seconds of each other on account of a dropped ball in the Bowdoin offensive zone and a near-perfect fast break attack.
The Polar Bears proved their resiliency once more, scoring four unanswered goals to open the fourth quarter and take a two-goal lead.
Colby looked poised to get right back in it when it found itself on a one-on-one with Williamson, but the Bowdoin net minder proved his worth with a spectacular point-blank stuff to keep his team in front.
"Chris's timely saves have helped our defensive confidence and provided our team with another great asset," said sophomore defenseman Matthew Egan.
Colby made things interesting, scoring with just over a minute left in regulation to cut the Bowdoin lead to one, but a last second shot attempt was turned away by the quick reactions of Williamson, who finished his night with a game-high 16 saves.
The win offered the Bowdoin faithful a glimmer of hope after last Saturday's heartbreaking loss to the undefeated Connecticut College Camels, who defeated Bowdoin for the first time in 11 years in a thrilling overtime contest.
Led by a two-goal performance from attackman Nathan Fritts '12, the Polar Bears raced out to a 5-1 halftime lead.
The Bowdoin offense was stagnant for much of the second half however, producing just two goals against Connecticut College's zone defense.
A late turnover gave Connecticut College the tie with just over three minutes left in regulation and the game headed to overtime with terrific stops from both goalies.
A penalty put the Polar Bears a man down and the team was unable to hold off the Camels' attack, surrendering the game-winning goal to cap a frustrating day for Bowdoin supporters and give Connecticut College an 8-7 victory.