During the second game of one of the most highly-anticipated seasons for the men's soccer team, the Polar Bears showed their true colors and proved why they are setting their sights on a NESCAC championship. In a 4-0 win against Husson on Tuesday, the experienced Polar Bears controlled the game from start to finish.
Eddie Jones '12, who tied for second on the squad in goals scored in the 2009 season, gave Bowdoin the lead in the ninth minute of play. Jones struck again in the 22nd minute and completed his first career hat trick with a second-half goal. Michael Gale '13 assisted Jones on his first two goals and scored one of his own to close out the dominant non-conference performance.
On the other end of the field, goalkeeper and captain Dan Hicks '11 was tested with just one shot during the game. In an impressive stretch of solid goaltending, Hicks has not allowed a goal in his last 332 minutes of play.
"I thought we did very well last night," he said. "It was our first test with a mid-week game, rushing from class and on the road. It was a focused performance that was good for our forwards and our confidence."
Hicks added, "It was arguably a tougher challenge to keep our focus on a rainy weeknight up north and we handled it with class."
Last Saturday, Bowdoin hosted Amherst for the first game of the 2010 season and its first NESCAC matchup. Amherst had an impressive 2009 campaign, going 12-4-1 overall and making it to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Ranked No. 21 in the national preseason poll and No. 3 in New England, the Polar Bears were aware of the threat posed by the skillful Lord Jeffs. After 110 minutes of regulation and sudden-death double overtime, the teams remained tied 0-0 and each earned one point in the standings.
"We played well against Amherst, competed vigorously and had the lion's share of possession," O'Leary said.
"Amherst is typically the most physical team in the league and we were able to dominate them in that aspect of the game," said captain Ben Denton-Schneider '11.
The Polar Bears outshot Amherst 17-7 and dictated play for most of the game. Hicks and counterpart Leonard Kovacs for Amherst each had impressive saves to maintain the stalemate.
The Polar Bears will take on rival Bates College on Saturday.
"I think they had the better of us in the preseason scrimmage so we need to take our game to a higher level," added Coach O'Leary.
Bowdoin looks to continue its confident, stellar play from the Husson game and jump up the NESCAC rankings.
"After two strong performances, we are looking for our first league victory," said Denton-Schneider. "We are hoping to combine our physicality with controlled possession for our first conference win."