MALDEN, Mass. - Senior Jordan Lalor and sophomore Colin Downey both had four-point games as the 14th-ranked Bowdoin College men's ice hockey team rolled to a 9-2 NESCAC win at Tufts on Friday night at Valley Forum II.
The visiting Polar Bears improved to 9-1-2 in their last 12 games, while moving to 14-5-3 overall and 11-3-3 in the league. Bowdoin can clinch the second seed for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament with a tie or better at Connecticut College on Saturday. Tufts lost its third in a row, dropping to 11-10-2 (8-8-1 NESCAC).
Lalor had four assists in the game, while Downey finished with a goal and three assists. Fifteen Bowdoin players overall scored points, including six with more than one. Sophomore Harry Matheson recorded two goals with an assist, while classmate Ollie Koo tallied two goals.
The Polar Bears jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first period, chasing Tufts starting goalie Scott Barchard at 14:16. Eight Polar Bears contributed to the barage, with Downey scoring a goal with two assists in the period.
Tufts came out stronger in the second, but it didn't last. Senior Evan Story scored for the Jumbos at 1:15 to make it 4-1. However, Bowdoin added four more goals to take an 8-1 advantage at 14:22. Tufts switched goalies again, replacing senior Evin Koleini with sophomore Brian Phillips. Of the 10 Bowdoin players recording points in the period, junior Daniel Weiniger had a goal and an assist, while Lalor had two assists. First-year Danny Palumbo finished the scoring with the Polar Bears' ninth goal at the 18:18 mark of the third period.
Bowdoin finished with a 45-34 advantage in shots. Sophomore Steve Messina was steady in goal with 32 saves. Tufts' goalies combined for 36 saves, with seven by Barchard, 11 by Koleini and 18 by Phillips. The Polar Bears complete a season sweep of the Jumbos, and outscored Tufts 14-3 in the two games.
Both teams finish their regular seasons tomorrow. Tufts hosts Colby at 4:15 p.m., while Bowdoin travels to Connecticut College for a 3 p.m. start.