The men's lacrosse team will travel to Connecticut College this weekend for its third conference game in pursuit of its first conference victory.
"Everyone in the league is strong, but we can compete with everyone," said head coach Tom McCabe. "We lost a couple of one-goal games and a close one to Amherst."
The Camels are 2-5, but winless in the NESCAC.
"We need to win one," said McCabe. "They are in the same situation as we are and we are both looking to get off the bottom of the league. Our goal is to be there in the end of the season in the conference tournament."
Last weekend Bowdoin hosted Amherst. The Lord Jeffs held a slim 5-4 lead at the beginning of the third quarter on which they mounted a decisive 5-1 run to secure their lead. Amherst lead 13-7 toward the end of the game, though a late trio of goals by Bowdoin brought the final score to 13-10. Ben Chadwick '11 had three goals and first year Franklin Reis '14, Billy Bergner '13 and Patrick Lawlor '13 each had two goals. Senior goalie Jack McCampbell made 10 saves.
The Polar Bears traveled to Exeter High School in New Hampshire on Wednesday to face Springfield College.
"Springfield is an independent game for us, but they are similar to us and very talented," said McCabe.
The Polar Bears struggled early and were down 7-3 toward the end of the first half. The team rallied and scored six unanswered goals to assume a 9-7 lead with 6:40 left in the third quarter.
Kit Smith '11 was the main force of the run and he scored three of his season-high four goals in the rally. Yet Springfield recovered its momentum and retook the lead at the end of the third quarter.
Both teams matched scoring in the fourth quarter, but the Polar Bears were unable to respond with 36 seconds left in the contest and Springfield prevailed 12-11. Mike Bottinelli '13 (seven goals, three saves) and Jack Burkhardt '11 (five goals, nine saves) split time in the net. Both goalies played well and Burkhardt made a flurry of saves at the end before Springfield was able to put it away.
"I think we have a really talented group—the most talented we've had in my four years—but we're in a little bit of a slump right now," said Chadwick. "We showed glimpses of being a really good team, but we need to put together a complete game. We had spurts of excellence but a couple of downers killed our momentum. But all in all we are showing signs of improving."
The Polar Bears are getting some quality play from Chadwick, Bergner and Patrick Lawlor '13 offensively as well as good defensive play from Matt Egan '12 and Greg Pierce '11. The team will look to gel on the road this weekend against the Camels.
"Our focus will be putting it all together," said Chadwick. "Everyone in the NESCAC can beat anyone else. They were good last year, but they are having a slow start like us. We have to take them seriously and get our first NESCAC win."