WATERVILLE, Maine - Brendan Reich scored the game-winning goal with 18 seconds remaining to cap a stirring comeback on Saturday evening as the Bowdoin College men's ice hockey team rallied from a four-goal deficit to defeat Colby, 6-5. The fifth-ranked Polar Bears (6-1-0) round out their first semester by sweeping the Mules for the first time since 2005-06. Colby falls to 2-5-1 with the loss.
The Mules came out strong and led 4-1 after the first period. Sam Courcelles and Spike Smigelski each scored on the power play in the opening 6:49 of the game to give Colby a quick 2-0 lead. The Mules added a third goal by sophomore Cory McGrath at 10:29 on a short-handed tally, but Bowdoin's Colin Downey put his team on the scoreboard at 11:29 on the power play. Mike Doherty closed out the scoring with just 26 seconds left in the frame.
The Mules once again started quickly in the second period when captain Billy Crinnion tallied just 34 seconds into play against Bowdoin's second netminder, Connor Shannon, who had replaced starter Richard Nerland. Shannon would not allow another goal however, and Kyle Shearer-Hardy startedthe comeback with a 5x3 goal at 2:50 of the second stanza. Jay Livermore scored at 7:41 and Timothy McGarry added a goal at 9:30 to make it 5-4 after two periods and give the Polar Bears some major momentum.
Bowdoin chipped away to start the third period and were finally able to find the equalizer with 5:31 to play off the stick of Jeff Fanning. With the clock winding down and the contest seemingly headed for overtime, Reich collected a puck at the blue line and ripped a shot that bounced through traffic. With Colby's Cody McKinney out of position to chase the bouncing puck, Reich drove to the net, collected the puck and backhanded it past a pair of Mule defenders and into the cage with just 18 ticks remaining, stunning the packed house at Alfond Rink.
Shannon was outstanding, making 17 saves over the final 40 minutes for the Polar Bears. McKinney made 26 saves and allowed all six goals on the night. Graham Sisson was credited with three assists for Bowdoin while Kyle Lockwood, Owen Smith and Jordan Lalor had two assists apiece.
Bowdoin was called for 10 penalties while Colby committed 12. The Polar Bears took advantage with three power play goals on the night. Bowdoin will return to action in 2011, when they host Wentworth on Tuesday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m.
