OSWEGO, N.Y. - The Bowdoin College men's ice hockey team battled back from deficits on four occasions, but saw their season come to an end in a 7-5 loss to Oswego State in the NCAA Quarterfinals Saturday night. The resilient Polar Bears, who end with a record of 19-8-1, cap a fantastic season that included the program's first NESCAC title and NCAA victory.
Oswego (23-4-0) advances to its second-straight NCAA Semifinal where they will face Elmira or Adrian in Minneapolis on March 25.
In a game worthy of two of the nation's top offensive clubs, Bowdoin tied the season-high for goals allowed by the Lakers thanks to a pair of goals from Brendan Reich and Harry Matheson. Daniel Weiniger had three assists. Jon Whitelaw and David Titanic scored a pair of goals for Oswego State in the victory.
The teams combined for a thrilling first period, as the Lakers struck first as Paul Rodrigues finished off a 2-on-1 rush 7:04 in to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Reich answered for Bowdoin by finishing off a centering feed from Bryan Rosata at 10:44 to deadlock the game. Oswego pulled ahead for the second time on the power play five minutes later as Jon Whitelaw knocked home a goal on the power play. Reich drew the game even again with less than a minute remaining in the frame, redirecting a Bryan Rosata shot in front.
Luke Moodie put the Lakers back in front 7:30 into the second frame when he tipped a Han VanBoxmeer shot in front. But Bowdoin was able to draw even again on the power play less than two minutes later when a puck was dug out of the corner to Weiniger who, while falling to the ice, delivered a pass on the doorstep to Jeff Fanning, who banged home the game-tying goal on the back post at 9:04. The game seemed destined to be tied entering the third period, but David Titanic put Oswego ahead with a great individual effort, potting his own rebound with 1:24 left in the second second stanza to put the hosts ahead 4-3 entering the third.
The third period began with Bowdoin's Harry Matheson slipping a shot past Oswego's Paul Beckwith just 1:50 in to frame, setting up a frantic final frame. Titantic's second goal regained the lead for the Lakers at 5:38, who then went on a 5x3 power play midway through the period. Bowdoin killed off the penalty, but Owen Kelly pushed Oswego's lead to 6-4 almost immediately following the advantage at 11:06 to give the hosts their first two-goal advantage of the night.
The Polar Bears refused to go away and drew within a goal again at 15:55 when Matheson knocked home his second goal of the period to make it 6-5. But the Lakers put the game on ice less than a minute later, as Whitelaw delivered the final knockout blow with a goal at 16:30.
Despite allowing seven goals, Steve Messina made 41 stops, including several spectacular saves to keep the Polar Bears in contention. Beckwith, who entered the game as the Division III leader in goals against average, made 17 saves in the win.
Photos courtesy of Dave Van Fleet and Oswego State Sports Information
