When the men's lacrosse team hosts Tufts tonight at 7 p.m. under the lights on Ryan Field, it will mark the last home game for the team's 10 seniors.
"Being a part of the Bowdoin lacrosse team is all about representing the school and the program honorably," said senior captain Kit Smith, "it's a sport we all have a passion for and that passion spans the decades. We've had countless alumni of all ages—as far back as 1985 graduates—come back to Bowdoin to share our company and tell stories about Bowdoin lacrosse teams of old."
After a thrilling NESCAC victory against Williams last Saturday, the seniors ensured tonight's game would not be the last of their career, as they clinched a playoff berth with the 8-7 road victory.
Bowdoin pulled out to an early 4-2 lead after the game's first quarter, before Williams narrowed the lead with a pair of goals before halftime.
"We started off really well, but Williams was tough and kept the game close throughout," said junior Brendan Hughes. "Every team in the NESCAC presents a difficult challenge, so I'm not surprised by how tight the game was."
The game would remain a defensive battle, as Bowdoin's goalkeeper Jake McCampbell '11 anchored a defense that would allow just eight goals from Williams' 34 shots, including a game-high 11 saves from the Bowdoin goalie.
After an even third period in which both teams each scored just a single goal, Bowdoin's Keegan Mehlhorn '12 got his third goal and then got the assist for the eventual game winner, deposited in the back of the net by junior Nate Fritts with 7:59 left to play.
"This was a key win for our team," said Mehlhorn, "we didn't have our best offensive performance, but we did just enough to come away with a victory."
The win evened Bowdoin's record at 6-6 (3-5 NESCAC) for the year and guaranteed the Polar Bears a chance at a postseason NESCAC title with a spot in the NESCAC tournament. The loss drops Williams to 2-10 (1-8 NESCAC) on the year.
Bowdoin will look to improve its playoff position with a win against the NESCAC's regular season champion, Tufts, who enter tonight's game with a perfect 8-0 record in NESCAC play.
"I have some great memories on the turf, including a victory against Tufts two years ago on the Friday night of Ivies under the lights," said Smith. "We're looking to recreate that same Ivies magic in this year's contest and put on a show for the fans. It will be a true test of how far we've come this season, and a win would give us some momentum going into the NESCAC tournament."