BOX SCORE

BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College men's ice hockey team scored five times in the final 17 minutes to rally past Saint Anselm on Friday evening, 8-4, at Sidney J. Watson Arena. The 12th-ranked Polar Bears (16-5-1, 13-4-1 NESCAC) clinch a home quarterfinal game in the NESCAC Tournament with the win. Bowdoin can clinch the top seed and home ice for the entire conference tournament with a win over New England College on Saturday afternoon.

Graham Sisson scored twice to lead the Polar Bears while Daniel Weiniger and Aaron O'Callahan had a goal and two assists apiece. Coleman Noonan had two goals and a helper for Saint Anselm. The Hawks fall to 12-10-1 (9-8-1 ECAC East) with the setback.

Jeff Fanning wasted little time getting Bowdoin on the board, as he slapped home a rebound inside the left post just 1:23 into the contest. The Polar Bears added to their lead at 12:49 when a Daniel Weiniger slap shot from the point was redirected in front by Kit Smith, over the shoulder of Alex Wyse. The Hawks cut into the lead with less than four minutes as Tucker Mullen banged home a rebound on the power play at 3:45 to make it 2-1 Polar Bears after one period.

Saint Anselm evened the score on a 4x4 situation midway through the second frame. A scramble in front resulted in John Hyslip knocking home a loose puck in front at 6:37. But Bowdoin regained the lead less than five minutes later when Graham Sisson circled in front and snapped a shot past Wyse at 10:51. Bowdoin made a bid to increase their advantage later in the frame, but squandered a 5x3 power play, keeping it a one-goal game until Coleman Noonan converted on a 5x3 for the Hawks, tying the score at three after two periods.

The Hawks took the lead just 34 seconds into the final period, as Noonan ripped a shot immediately following a faceoff draw to give the visitors their first advantage of the game. Bowdoin bounced back to tie the score two minutes later when Aaron O'Callahan found Sisson just outside the crease for a one-timer at the three-minute mark. O'Callahan put the Polar Bears aheard at 7:13, receiving a pass from Ryan Blossom and snapping a shot from the left circle over Wyse's shoulder to give the hosts a one-goal lead. Bowdoin added some insurance as Leland Fidler added to the lead at 8:51 and Aaron Milley put the game on ice with his first career tally at 16:38. The Polar Bears added an empty-netter from Daniel Weiniger to close out the scoring.

Wyse made 25 saves in the loss for Saint Anselm while Chris Rossi stopped 25 as well for the Polar Bears, including 11 in the third period.